2023.04.01 Kyoto Ohara Stroll Part 2 A friend coming from Tokyo took a bus for 1 hour from Kyoto Station, while two of us drove for 1.5 hours from Osaka to meet up in Kyoto at Ohara Sanzenin. Our friend would arrive at Ohara bus stop around noon, so we decided to stop by Ohara Station to get some mountain vegetables and spring vegetables before heading north to the parking lot at Ohara Sanzenin, where we arrived around 9:30 am. We walked 500m along the mountain path and passed through the gate of Sanzenin for the first time in 9 years. We paid the entrance fee and tea room fee at the reception in front of the partially blooming cherry blossoms, then sat on the veranda of the guest hall with a red carpet. The entrance fee is 700 yen for adults, and the tea room fee is 600 yen. After a short wait, we were served matcha and yokan, which we enjoyed while looking out at the inner garden (Juhokuen). The sweet yokan and light tea, along with the refreshing blue sky and sunlight filling the garden with greenery, brought a sense of calm to our hearts. It made us want to hum the song "Onna Hitori" by Eikichi Yazawa, which is set at Kyoto Ohara Sanzenin. We put on our shoes after leaving the guest hall, walked through the moss-covered grounds, and admired the quiet Jizo statues nestled among the moss. Heading towards the golden Fudo Hall in the back, we were greeted by cherry blossoms in full bloom! As we climbed the stone steps towards the Kannon Hall, we found a very cute little Jizo statue along the way. We also discovered wasabi plants blooming with white flowers in the grounds and couldn't help but do a little dance of joy. Next, we walked down the mountain path and headed to the Korean restaurant "Somsy Ohara" near Ohara bus stop for an early lunch. Bon appétit!

In April 2023, I visited Sanzenin Temple in Ohara, Kyoto. It had been about 9 years since my last visit. I passed through the palace gate, paid the admission fee, and entered. This time, I also enjoyed a tea ceremony. I sipped matcha and ate yokan while leisurely gazing at the garden. The total cost for admission and the tea ceremony was 1300 yen. It's always a pleasure to relax and enjoy tea while admiring the beautiful garden. Thank you for the wonderful experience! 🍵

The weather was perfect for touring in Ohara - not too hot, not too cold. We enjoyed a tea ceremony for 600 yen each, while gazing at the greenery. It was nice to see it not crowded even on a Sunday, allowing us to explore comfortably. We think it would be enjoyable to visit in any season. We will definitely come back. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

I visited this place with the purpose of trying shaved ice in Kyoto's famous spots. The retro atmosphere and simple yet deep flavor of the shaved ice were incredibly delicious! The combination of shaved ice and retro setting was perfect for a hot summer day inside the cozy shop.

Enjoying a bowl of matcha in the peaceful Sanzenin Temple✨ I also enjoyed the hydrangeas at Sanzenin Temple...♪*ﾟ... But first, let's have a drink! (*´∀`*)y-ﾟThe timing was perfect as a seat just opened up (∩´∀`∩)♡ The matcha is delicious as expected♪♪ And the sweet bean jelly is just the right amount of sweetness, perfect for a break (≧▽≦) The hydrangeas were stunning yesterday, but the hydrangea garden at Sanzenin Temple is also very beautiful✨ I am satisfied (๑ˇεˇ๑)•*¨*•.¸¸♪

At Kyoto's Sanzenin Temple, you can enjoy tea and sweets while looking out at the central garden. Matcha is served in a tea bowl, and you can enjoy it with a slice of yokan. Sitting on the red carpet laid out on the temple's veranda, sipping tea, and spending some time in this way is truly a luxurious experience.

In April, the weather took a turn back to winter-like air, making for a pleasant afternoon in Kyoto at the foot of Mount Hiei (Kajiyama). I decided to explore the local food and scenery in Ohara, known as the vegetable paradise. I first visited "la bûche," a new star in Ohara known for its wood-fired and natural wines, before heading to the nearby famous spot, Sanzenin Temple. Unfortunately, it was closed, so I went to "Ohara Sanzenin" instead. As I entered through the grand gate, I was greeted by two gardens with ponds and towers, surrounded by cedar and cypress trees, with sunlight filtering through the moss creating a beautiful scene. Despite being a tourist attraction, it was not crowded, and I felt like I was guided into a different world, experiencing a sense of tranquility. In the early stages of the tour, I enjoyed a cup of tea (600 yen) in the guest hall facing the garden, offering a view of the "Shuhekien" garden with chrysanthemum patterns, moss, and a pond. The tea was ordinary in taste, but the peaceful atmosphere due to the lack of other visitors made it a special moment. The tea ceremony room was just the beginning of the tour, with many more highlights to come. The "Ushizumi Garden," the national treasure Ojo Gokurakuin, and the Jizo statues integrated with nature were all familiar sights. Walking through the grounds with hardly anyone around, I reflected on the words of world peace displayed in various places. It was April 2022, and Ohara was bustling with activity, from the popular morning market at "Satonoeki Ohara" to the historical sites attracting history enthusiasts. While city food tours and famous spots are enjoyable, the beauty of nature and the local food and scenery unique to the area are equally delightful. Ohara Sanzenin is vast, so a leisurely visit takes about an hour. Although it caters to tourists, it was practically empty when I visited, allowing me to truly experience the essence of the place.

The annual Sanzenin Daikonbukkake event was cancelled last year due to COVID, but this year it was held with takeout only to prevent the spread. I parked at the closest parking lot to Sanzenin and brought disposable chopsticks, so I was able to enjoy the hot daikon at my car. I hope next year's event will be back to normal.

Category: Favorite Izakaya (Kinki Region) Today's walk is in Kyoto. After finishing a morning beer in front of the station, I took a bus to Kyoto Daishoin Sanzenin. It's crowded on the bus today, being a Saturday. Luckily, I could find a seat since it was the first bus. The person next to me was silent too. No one was coughing around, so let's just stay on the bus. It's the autumn leaves season at Sanzenin in Kyoto. I watched a group getting off the bus and walked along the approach to avoid crowds. It's best to take the lead or chase from behind alone. Let's decide on one. Let's take a short break at the red leaves spot in Sanzenin. You can have matcha and yokan for a fee. It's been about a year since I had a non-alcoholic matcha high without Kinmiya. That time was before an endoscopy. I remember ordering zosoka without Kinmiya at "Yotsugi Seimenjo" and also udon without negi. Now that we've seen the autumn leaves, let's head back to the city. Thank you for the meal! "Kyoto Daishoin Sanzenin" 540 Daigoin Raigo-incho, Ohara, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture [March-November] 8:30 am-5:00 pm [December-February] 8:30 am-4:30 pm

After enjoying a delicious Western meal, I hopped on the Kyoto bus to the final stop, which brought me to Daikoku-go. The goal was to visit Sanzen-in Temple. The roadside deities served as guideposts. The approach was covered with lush greenery of the forest. Along the way, there were various shops like souvenir stores and miscellaneous goods shops, making it a fun shopping experience. Passing through the forested slope, I finally entered Sanzen-in Temple. Here, the autumn leaves were beginning to show their beautiful colors. The charm of Sanzen-in Temple lies in tea. In a tea room overlooking a beautiful garden, you can enjoy tea with traditional Japanese sweets. Drinking tea while admiring the autumn leaves is truly a calming experience. Exiting the temple, the maple trees had turned into a rainbow of blue, yellow, and red. While Kyoto's city center still had mostly green leaves, at Sanzen-in Temple, I was able to see some lovely autumn foliage. Temples in the mountains of Kyoto have a unique charm. It was worth the journey to the remote final stop of the local bus. Temples in the mountainous areas of Kyoto have a special atmosphere. ^^

■Visit Date: August 11, 2020■Items Received: Tea Ceremony (Matcha, Sweet Bean Jelly)■MEMOVisited on August 11, 2020. It was my first time visiting Kyoto Daihonzan Sanzenin. A woman tired of love, alone in Kyoto, fulfilling a long-held wish. I had always wanted to visit since coming to Kyoto. I originally planned to go during Golden Week, but due to the impact of the coronavirus and self-restraint on going out, I postponed it. And this time, with summer vacation and the situation with the coronavirus, I decided not to go back to my parents' house... It was the perfect opportunity to visit. There were very few people, allowing me to leisurely enjoy the visit. The tea ceremony overlooking the garden was also wonderful. The red carpet and greenery matched well. In the quiet air, listening to the summer cicadas chirping and watching the water striders on the surface, my heart felt calm. It is a precious space where you can witness the history that has been carved out day after day for centuries. I enjoyed the matcha and sweet bean jelly at the tea ceremony. It was a luxurious time, flowing slowly. Yes! It felt like I was still in the world of "Let's go to Kyoto."■Blog (Japanese): https://ay-style.net/?p=52257

We visited the Daikoku Sanzenin temple and it was so beautiful with moss-covered grounds, a traditional Japanese garden. It was perfect! While exploring and singing "Kyoto Daikoku Sanzenin~", we stumbled upon a daikon soup event! What luck! The daikon was huge and hot, but delicious. It felt like a sign of good luck for the upcoming year. We were a lucky couple! (laughs)

You can enjoy matcha and yokan while overlooking the garden of Sanzen-in temple. Time passes slowly in this soothing space. I have visited multiple times, but my companion found their matcha to be very bitter. When I tried it, I noticed a significant difference in richness. It seems that matcha can vary in quality.

Normally, at this time of year, the leaves would be turning red, but this year they are still green. However, the green leaves are also beautiful, and enjoying matcha and sweet bean jelly while looking out at the garden is very relaxing. After having tea, I stroll through the famous garden. The moss-covered Jizo statues are very soothing!

When you hear "Sanzenin," this phrase naturally comes to mind: "In Kyoto, at Ohara Sanzenin, a woman tired of love is alone." This is a line from Duke Aces' "Onna Hitori." This was my third visit, including a high school field trip, and beyond Sanzenin lies the famous "Jokyu no Ran," where power shifted completely from the imperial court to the samurai. There lies the Ohara Mausoleum of Emperor Gotoba and Emperor Juntoku. Even in the Reiwa era, the village of Ohara is filled with a melancholic atmosphere. Reflecting on the fact that the shogunate did not even allow the imperial family to set foot in Kyoto even after death, I enjoyed some yokan and matcha alone as a man.

Midsummer at Ohara is quite wonderful. The greenery is lush, and stepping into the shade, you can feel a coolness not found in the city. In such a setting, taking a break with matcha is a great way to relax. The sweetness of the yokan refreshes a tired body. Enjoying the leisurely flow of time is also a delightful way to experience Kyoto.

There was a tea ceremony at Sanzenin Temple, where I enjoyed hydrangeas and moss. As soon as you enter Sanzenin, there is a tea ceremony area. There is a specific order to follow and you cannot go back once you move forward. I had tea while looking at the garden. The space is not very large, but it felt like there were many elements packed into it. About half of the people enjoying tea were foreigners. The sweets were sweet and went perfectly with the bitter matcha. It was a weekday, but the place was getting crowded quickly, so it wasn't a place where you could relax and take your time while looking at the garden.

When driving around Kyoto, a must-visit place is Daikoku-san Zen-in in Ohara. It's been a while since I last visited Kyoto. After paying the admission fee, I first toured the buildings. At the veranda facing the garden, you can enjoy matcha tea. Relaxing with a view of the beautiful garden and listening to the frogs croaking in the pond while sipping tea is truly refreshing. I leisurely enjoyed some slightly sweet yokan sweets with it. Then, I took a stroll around the garden where a gardener was carefully tending to the cedar moss. It's the meticulous work like this that brings us such a wonderful garden that soothes our hearts. Thank you. I will definitely visit again when I come to Kyoto next time.

I went to Sanzen-in to see the autumn leaves. I enjoyed matcha on the veranda. It cost 500 yen including tax. I paid at the matcha reception and received a voucher, then waited on the veranda. They first brought me a sweet snack called "youkan." After a while, the matcha arrived. It was luxurious to enjoy tea while looking at the beautiful garden. Both the youkan and matcha were delicious!

This time, I visited Sanzenin for the first time during the autumn foliage season. Sanzenin, as you may know, originated as a grass hut of the Tendai sect about 1,200 years ago, and is famous for its pond garden. It is located about an hour away by Kyoto bus route 17 from JR Kyoto Station. I recommend going in the morning to avoid traffic congestion when returning in the afternoon. After enjoying matcha and sweet bean jelly for 500 yen in the guest hall as usual, I took my time admiring the beautiful garden, although it was a bit crowded due to the autumn foliage season. The ceiling of the Amida Hall at Ojo Gokuraku-in caught my attention this time. The admission fee is reasonable, with 700 yen for adults, 400 yen for middle and high school students, and 150 yen for elementary school students. There is also a stamp rally for children, where they can receive a Sanzenin seal. I plan to revisit in early May to explore more thoroughly next time.