Cycling from Arashiyama to Daikakuji Temple

自転車で嵐山の大覚寺へ

This week's Arashiyama route will be over to Daikakuji Temple.

Daikakuji was originally a detached palace for the Emperor Saga. In 876 C.E., however, his daughter Empress Seishi rebuilt the palace as Daikakuji Temple and named her son, Imperial Prince Gojaku, as its first chief priest.

A large palace was then built on a one hundred acre piece of land that sits next to Osawa pond. The pond is manmade, and is modeled upon Lake Tungting in China.

Daikakuji looks and feels quite similar to Ninnaji Temple, which is a fifteen-minute ride back towards the center of town.

The Utano Youth Hostel is a short ride on the ride to Ninnaji and Ryoanji Temples - and farther on, the Golden Pavilion - on the left. It is fabulously beautiful, if a bit inconvenient.

Information

The easiest way to get from central Kyoto to Arashiyama is to head west on Marutamachi Dori - for about 30 minutes.

For those with a bike bag, JR Saga Arashiyama is a 15+ minute from Kyoto Station.



© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Arashiyama

自転車で嵐山から大覚寺へ

自転車で大覚寺へ

Arashiyama is a great part of Kyoto, and a great place to cycle - if planned well.

It is flat and well-paved, and if one avoids the crowds during peak season it is a sweet ride.

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling from the center of Arashiyama to Daikakuji Temple:

Ride Arashiyama, ride.


© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Daikakuji

Kyoto Cherry Blossoms

大覚寺花見

North of central Arashiyama is the lovely man-made lake that is adjacent to Daikakuji Temple.

It is a favorite spot for both spring cherry blossom viewing and, in September, moon viewing.

We spent a wonderful day with friends under a the boughs of a large cherry tree.

Perhaps because of a wee bit too much sake, the settings in the digital camera became confused and all of the wonderful photos taken of the temple, revelers, and cherry trees cannot be uploaded.

This picture is of a tree on the spit of land between the Takano and Kamo Rivers - and was taken a year ago.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Cherry Blossoms
Kyoto
Cycle
Daikakuji Temple

Daikakuji Temple by Bicycle

自転車で大覚寺へ

Daikakuji Temple is an amazing lakeside temple a short bike ride from Arashiyama.

It was originally the Imperial villa of the Emperor Saga, later becoming a temple in the ninth century.

Daikakuji houses paintings from the Kano School, who were active from the 15th to 18th centuries. The surrounding Osawa Lake (Osawa no ike) is manmade, and was once used for boating by the Emperor and a reproduction of a royal boat is still there.

Boats are available for rental.

The picture above right is of a sub-temple by the lake.

It is a great area for cycling, not far from the Kyoto Youth Hostel and Ninnaji Temple.

Admission fees: Adults: 500 yen; Junior/senior students: 300 yen.

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Daikakuji Temple