🍃 Hidden Kyoto: Zen Gardens & Tree Views

#summervacay

Escape the crowds of Arashiyama and Gion —
and step into Kyoto’s quietest temples, where stillness speaks louder than words.

📍 Stop 1: Tofuku-ji (東福寺)
A Zen temple from the 13th century
Famed for autumn foliage and an elegant wooden valley bridge
The scale is massive, but it never feels rushed
Gardens, gates, corridors — every turn is a postcard

🎯 Highlight:

Tsutenkyo Bridge — a 100m corridor over a maple-filled valley
Best visited in late November for fiery reds
🎟️ Entry: ~500 yen (extra for garden areas)
🚇 Access: Tofukuji Station (JR or Keihan Line)

🪷 Stop 2: Komyo-in (光明院)
A tiny sub-temple next to Tofuku-ji
Often called the "Garden of Light"
Minimalist rock garden with moss, stones, and asymmetry in perfection
Sit on the wooden veranda and just… breathe
🎟️ Entry: Donation-based (~300 yen suggested)
🕯️ Vibe: Tranquility. Few people. Timeless calm.

🏞️ Stop 3: Tsutenkyo Bridge (通天橋)

Technically part of Tofuku-ji, but deserves its own spot
Stroll slowly over the valley of Momiji (Japanese maples)
The view from above is like a sea of red and gold leaves
Spring = green maple tunnel; Autumn = fire

🗓️ Suggested Route
09:30 – Arrive at Tofuku-ji, explore gardens
11:00 – Sit & reflect at Komyo-in
12:00 – Stroll Tsutenkyo Bridge
13:00 – Local lunch near Tofukuji Station
This isn’t the Kyoto you’ve seen in tourist posters.
It’s the Kyoto that breathes in silence, in stones, in leaves.

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