Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Takao Area
The Takao area is tucked far away in the northwestern part of Kyoto. It is famed for au-
tumn foliage and a trio of temples: Jingo-ji, Saimyō-ji and Kōzan-ji.
To reach Takao, take bus 8 from Nijō Station to the last stop, Takao (¥500, 40 minutes).
From Kyoto Station, take the hourly JR bus to the Yamashiro Takao stop (¥500, 50
minutes).
| TEMPLE
JINGO-JI
( 861-1769; 5 Takao-chō, Umegahata, Ukyō-ku; admission ¥500; 9am-4pm)
This mountaintop temple
is one of our favourites in all of Kyoto. It sits at the top of a long flight of stairs that
stretch from the Kiyotaki-gawa to the temple's main gate. The Kondō (Gold Hall) is the
most impressive of the temple's structures, located roughly in the middle of the grounds at
the top of another flight of stairs.
After visiting the Kondō, head in the opposite direction along a wooded path to an open
area overlooking the valley. Here you'll see people tossing small discs over the railing in-
to the chasm below. These are
kawarakenage
, light clay discs that people throw in order
to rid themselves of their bad karma. Be careful, it's addictive and at ¥100 for two it can
get expensive (you can buy the discs at a nearby stall). The trick is to flick the discs very
gently, convex side up, like a frisbee. When you get it right, they sail all the way down the
valley - taking all that bad karma with them (try not to think about the hikers down be-
low).
To get to Jingo-ji, walk down to the river from the the Yamashiro Takao bus stop and
climb the steps on the other side.
| TEMPLE
SAIMYŌ-JI
( 861-1770; 2 Makio-chō, Umegahata, Ukyō-ku; admission ¥500; 9am-5pm)
About five minutes up-
stream from the base of the steps that lead to Jingo-ji, this fine little temple is another one
of our favourite spots in Kyoto. See if you can find your way round to the small waterfall
at the side of the temple. The grotto here is pure magic.
KŌZAN-JI
( 861-4204; 8 Toganoo-chō, Umegahata, Ukyō-ku; admission ¥600; 8am-5pm)
Hidden amid a grove of
towering cedar trees, this temple is the least accessible of the three temples in Takao. It's
famous for the
chuju giga
scroll in its collection, an ink-brush depiction of frolicking an-
imals that is considered by many to be the precursor of today's ubiquitous manga. The
| TEMPLE
