Ohara is an area north of Kyoto City and is where the imperial family and nobles once spent their days.
In this article, we look at how to get to Ohara and introduce you to our recommended places to visit.
Even today, Ohara remains home to abundant greenery, temples and a very different atmosphere to Kyoto City.
During autumn, the whole landscape is dyed a shade of dark red, attracting swaths of people looking to get a glimpse.
While relatively far away, Ohara is definitely a worthwhile trip for anyone wanting to see a quieter, more subdued side of Japan.
There are two main ways of getting to Ohara from Kyoto Station.
No. 1: Take the Subway to Kokusaikaikan Station (approx. 20 min), then take the No. 19 bus.
No 2: Take the No. 17 bus from the Kyoto Station bus terminal (approx. 1 hour).
The first sightseeing spot on our list, Sanzen-in Temple, is only a 10-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.
This temple is famous for its beautiful moss garden and seasonally shifting landscape. During the temple’s Momiji Matsuri festival, you can enjoy tea and snacks on benches set up around the temple while gazing at the beautiful autumn leaves. This is truly a must-see spot for anyone wanting to experience autumn in Kyoto to its fullest.
The leaves at the Sanzen-in Temple begin to change color around early November and reach their peak around mid to late November. In addition to the autumn leaves, the scenery of the fresh moss covered in brilliantly colored yellow and red leaves is also a sight to see.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Nov: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. / Dec – Feb: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Admission Fee: Adults: ￥700 (groups of 30 or more: ￥600), Junior/High school students: ￥400 (groups of 30 or more: ￥300), Elementary school students: ￥150
| Address | 540 Ohara Raigoincho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 601-1242 |
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| Open Hours | 9am - 5:00pm November： 8:30am - 5:00pm December-February：9am - 4:30pm |
Only two minutes’ walk from the Sanzen-in Temple sits the Shorin-in Temple, a relatively quiet temple where you can enjoy the autumn leaves in a relaxed and tranquil environment. The main hall of this temple features a brilliant moss garden, which couples with the maple trees to the right of the hall to create a fantastically picturesque scene.
Spots of yellow and orange dot the darkening maple leaves and create a wonderfully refreshing atmosphere. With such a tranquil atmosphere inside the temple, you’ll be sure to enjoy a carefree, unrushed time.
The leaves at the Shorin-in Temple reach their peak around mid-November.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission Fee: Adults, University students & High school students: ￥300, Junior high school students/children: ￥200
The final stop on our list is the Hosen-in Temple, home to a 700-year-old pinus parviflora pine tree. The white sand, rocks and colorful maple leaves inside the temple grounds come together to create a beautifully picturesque scene.
At Hosen-in Temple you can also enjoy tea and snacks while taking in the beautiful autumn leaves as well. The dark red color the leaves turn as they reach their peak, usually between early to mid-November, is definitely a sight to behold by anyone venturing out to Ohara.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission Fee: Adults: ￥800, Junior/High school students: ￥700, Elementary school students: ￥600
| Address | 187, Ohara Shorinincho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 601-1241 |
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| Open Hours | 9am - 5pm (must enter by 4:30pm) |
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Vanessa[ Sharing Kyoto Staff ] |
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