Kyoto | Peak Autumn Foliage at the Stunning Arashiyama Route.

Describing this area as peaceful and beautiful is just right. The combination of red and yellow leaves makes this the most beautiful autumn scenery. I managed to get tickets for the Arashiyama Scenic Railway a month in advance, planning to follow the classic route: Arashiyama Scenic Railway - Hozu River Boat Ride - Togetsukyo Bridge. However, I got lost and arrived late, missing the train. But as the saying goes, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do,' and I ended up discovering the most beautiful route of my three-day trip 😍😍 📍Route: Take the JR Sagano Line to 'Saga-Arashiyama Station.' From there, walk for 20 minutes to Jojakko-ji Temple - Nison-in Temple - pass by small shops - Gio-ji Temple - First Torii Gate of Atago Shrine - Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple - then return. 🍁Jojakko-ji Temple: Entrance fee is 500 yen. There's an official sign at the entrance indicating the peak autumn foliage season, showing how perfect the timing is. I arrived at around 11 AM, with the sunlight enhancing the vibrant colors of the leaves. A short climb offers a panoramic view of Kyoto, making this the highlight of the trip. 🍁Nison-in Temple: Entrance fee is 500 yen, a 5-minute walk from Jojakko-ji Temple. 🍁Gio-ji Temple: A small temple covered with over thirty types of moss. 🍁First Torii Gate of Atago Shrine: A serene stone path with peak autumn foliage, creating a perfect autumn atmosphere. There are two small restaurants near the torii gate, said to have been operating since the Edo period. The contrast between the vermilion torii gate and the ancient wooden buildings is striking, making it feel like stepping between the divine and the human world. 🍁Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple: Entrance fee is 400 yen. The temple is home to thousands of unique rakan statues, carved by visitors and sculptors invited by the head priest to express their prayers. The laughing rakan statue is probably the best, along with the heart-shaped rakan next to it. This place feels like the entrance to the world of 'Spirited Away.' 🚌Return: In Kyoto during the autumn foliage season, it gets dark around 4 PM. After finishing the tour around 2 PM, you can take bus 94 from Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple to return. However, the bus intervals are quite long, so I chose to walk back the same route, exploring the quiet residential alleys of Kyoto. Then, take the subway back to Kawaramachi. Walking back and forth gave me a pair of iron legs 😼😼.