Venue Autumn Leaves Autumn · Mid-November

Jōjakkō-ji Autumn Foliage (常寂光寺紅葉)

Kyoto · Kyoto · Kansai

Perched on a gentle slope in the Sagano district of Arashiyama, Jōjakkō-ji is renowned as one of Kyoto's most photogenic autumn foliage temples. The approach winds through stone steps blanketed in fallen leaves, leading past a thatched Niōmon gate to a multi-tiered garden of maples, oaks, and Japanese cedars. The two-storey Tahōtō pagoda framed by scarlet foliage is an iconic image of Kyoto autumn. Relatively uncrowded compared to nearby sites, the temple rewards unhurried exploration.

Type
Venue
Category
Autumn Leaves
Season
Autumn
Month
Mid-November
Region
Kansai
Prefecture
Kyoto
City
Kyoto

Highlights

  • Iconic Tahōtō pagoda surrounded by blazing autumn colour
  • Thatched Niōmon gate draped in fallen maple leaves
  • Stone-stepped approach lined with centuries-old moss
  • Quieter atmosphere than major Arashiyama venues
  • Panoramic views over the Sagano bamboo district