Kitayama Area & Greater Kyoto - Kyoto - page 275

Neighbourhood Top Five
Ascending to the mountain temple of Kurama-dera ( CLICK HERE ), one of the best
half-day trips in Kyoto. If you have the energy, continue over the top of the mountain and
down to the village of Kibune.
Entering the green wonderland of Saihō-ji ( CLICK HERE ).
Making a pilgrimage to the pinnacle of Japanese architecture, Katsura Rikyū Imper-
ial Villa ( CLICK HERE ).
Escaping to the quaint rural village of Ōhara ( CLICK HERE ) to visit the Buddhist para-
dise of Sanzen-in and then walk the rural footpaths of the village.
Climbing to Jingo-ji ( CLICK HERE ), a mountain temple where you can play 'karmic
frisbee.'
Explore: Kitayama Area & Greater Kyoto
The Kitayama Area & Greater Kyoto area encompass all the sites found at the periphery
of the city. This includes four villages in the Kitayama (Northern Mountains) area: Takao,
Ōhara, Kurama and Kibune. It also includes two first-rate sights in the southwest corner
of the city: Saihō-ji ('Moss Temple') and Katsura Rikyū Imperial Villa. In the south,
you'll find the sake-brewing centre known as Fushimi, and still further south you'll find
the tea-growing centre known as Uji, which is also home to a fine Buddhist temple,
Byōdō-in. Finally, in the northeast corner of the city, you'll find the mountain temple
complex of Enryaku-ji, which sits atop Mt Hiei, the mountain that dominates that corner
of the city.
Needless to say, due to their location, most of these sights require at least half a day to
visit and you shouldn't try to link any of these areas into one day trip (with the exception,
perhaps, of Uji and Fushimi).
All of the sights in this chapter can be reached by public transport. Kurama and Kibune
are a very easy 30-minute trip from Kyoto via the Eizan Dentetsu line. Likewise, Ōhara is
an easy 40-minute bus trip from central Kyoto (longer in autumn foliage season). Fushimi
and Uji are both served by the JR line and the private Keihan line. Buses and trains serve