Arashiyama Beyond the Crowds: Bamboo Grove & Hidden Paths

A must-see in Kyoto. We will arrive before the adjacent temple opens to avoid crowds and you will learn a brief history of how it came to be.

Learn how to tell the difference between a temple and a shrine, and a brief explanation about the significance of the shrine and what is commonly found at shrines.

Jojakko-ji Temple is a historic Zen temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto, located near the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Bamboo Grove. This hillside Kyoto temple is known for its moss gardens, stone pathways, traditional wooden halls, and panoramic views over Kyoto city. Beautiful in every season, Jojakkoji Temple is a year-round highlight in Arashiyama, from spring cherry blossoms and summer greenery to autumn leaves and peaceful winter scenery.

Our Arashiyama Kyoto walking tour continues to Hōkyō-in Temple — a quiet, off-the-beaten-path Zen sanctuary rarely included on standard Arashiyama tours. While most visitors explore the famous landmarks, we step into a secluded space that preserves one of the most unexpected and deeply human stories of Japan’s medieval warrior era. Beneath its understated grounds lies a burial that reshapes how we understand loyalty, rivalry, and respect — a story few travelers ever hear without a guide who knows where to look.

Our journey concludes at Seiryō-ji Temple in Arashiyama, home to one of Kyoto’s most sacred and historically significant Buddhist images. While many visitors admire its impressive main hall and move on, this temple preserves a story that connects imperial devotion, international exchange, and centuries of quiet faith. It’s the kind of place where the surface is beautiful — but the deeper meaning only reveals itself when you understand what you’re truly standing in front of.