Arashiyama & Sagano - Kyoto - page 263

SIGHTS

ARASHIYAMA MONKEY PARK IWATAYAMA
OFFLINE MAP
( 嵐山モンキーパークいわたやま ; 861-1616; 8 Genrokuzan-chō, Arashiyama, Nishikyō-ku; adult/
child ¥550/250; 9am-5pm 15 Mar-15 Nov, to 4pm winter; 20min walk from Keifuku Arashiyama Station, Kei-
fuku Arashiyama, Randen, line) If you want to spend some quality time with our simian cousins or
entertain restless children, this park might fit the bill. Just be warned: it's a steep climb up
the hill to get to the monkeys. If it's a hot day, you're going to be drenched by the time you
get to the spot where they gather.

| ZOO

Though it is common to spot wild monkeys in the nearby mountains, here you can en-
counter them at a close distance and enjoy watching the playful creatures frolic about. It
makes for an excellent photo opportunity, not only of the monkeys but also of the panor-
amic view over Kyoto. Refreshingly, it is the animals who are free to roam while the hu-
mans who feed them are caged in a box!

You enter the park near the south side of Tōgetsu-kyō, through the orange torii (shrine
gate) of Ichitani-jinja. Buy your tickets from the machine to the left of the shrine at the top
of the steps.

TOGETSU-KYŌ
OFFLINE MAP
( 渡月橋 ; Ukyō-ku, Saga Tenryū-ji, Susukinobaba-chō; 5min walk from Keifuku Arashiyama Station, Keifuku
Arashiyama, Randen, line) This bridge is the dominant landmark in Arashiyama and is just a few
minutes on foot from either the Keifuku line or Hankyū line Arashiyama Stations. The ori-
ginal crossing, constructed in 1606, was about 100m upriver from the present bridge.

| BRIDGE

On 13 April jūsan-mairi , an important rite of passage for local children aged 13, takes
place here. Boys and girls (many in kimono), after paying respects at Hōrin-ji (a nearby
temple) and receiving a blessing for wisdom, cross the bridge under strict parental order
not to look back towards the temple until they've reached the northern side of the bridge.
Not heeding this instruction is believed to bring bad luck for life!

From July to mid-September, this is a good spot from which to watch ukai (cormorant
fishing) in the evening. If you want to get close to the action, you can pay ¥1700 to join a
passenger boat. The Tourist Information Center ( CLICK HERE ) can provide more details.

You can also rent boats from the boat rental stall OFFLINE MAP (per hr ¥1400; 9am-4.30pm)
just upstream from the bridge. It's a nice way to spend some time in Arashiyama and kids
love it.