Ohara (大原, Ōhara) is a rural town nestled in the mountains of northern Kyoto, about one hour from Kyoto Station, but still technically located within Kyoto's city limits. Ohara is best known for Sanzenin Temple and particularly popular in mid November during the autumn leaf season, which typically occurs about one week earlier than in central Kyoto.
Sanzenin Temple is located part way up the forested mountains in the east of Ohara. It is a large temple with a variety of buildings and gardens, and was established in the early Heian Period (794-1185) by the great monk Saicho, who founded the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism. The path from the town to the temple is lined with numerous small shops. One of the local specialties on sale are aisu kyuri, cucumbers pickled in seaweed-flavored ice water and served on a stick.
The temples surrounding Sanzenin also belong to the Tendai sect. They are quite small and typically have only a couple of buildings or a garden. If you follow the walking trail behind the temples further into the forested mountain, you will eventually get to Otonashi Waterfall.
There are also a few attractions on the hillside on the opposite side of the valley, although there is generally less to see. Jakkoin Temple, another temple of the Tendai sect, is the area's main attraction. The temple has a long history, but unfortunately had to be rebuilt in the early 2000s after an arsonist burned down the main building. The area has a few shops, but not as many as around Sanzenin.
In 2004 drilling took place in Ohara that allowed the town's ryokan (Japanese inns) to access hot spring water from over a kilometer deep within the earth. There are two ryokan near Jakkoin and one near Sanzenin where visitors can stay overnight, enjoying hot spring water baths after a day of sightseeing. For travelers with less time, the baths are also open to day trippers in combined lunch and bath sets.
Main temples
Minor temples and sights
Getting there and around
From Kyoto Station, the fastest way to reach Ohara is to take the Karasuma Subway Line to its terminal station Kokusaikaikan (20 minutes, 290 yen) and then Kyoto Bus number 19 to Ohara (20 minutes, 400 yen, every 20 minutes). Alternatively, Kyoto Bus number 17 provides a direct connection from Kyoto Station to Ohara (60 minutes, 630 yen, every 30 minutes) via Shijo-Kawaramachi (45 minutes, 590 yen).
How to get to and around Kyoto
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Links and Resources
Hotels around Kyoto
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SponsoredArashiyama HanaikadaA little, superior ryokan right near Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama. Free transfer from JR station. Private bath and open-air baths available. 5min walk to the Bamboo Groves.View siteSponsored
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Top rated in Kyoto
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Guesthouse KYOTO COMPASSLocated in Kyoto, this traditional Japanese guest house features free Wi-Fi and a free public computer. Shichijo Onmae bus stop is 3 minutes’ walk away. A seating area and shared bathroom are provided with each room at Guesthouse KYOTO COMPASS. Free toiletries are provided and blankets are available upon request. Select rooms have a garden view. A shared living area and bicycles are available for guests’ use during their stay at this Kyoto Guesthouse Compass. Access to the shared kitchen is available upon request. The guest house is 4.5 km from Imperial Palace and 2.2 km from Kyoto Station. Nijo Castle and Toji Castle are within a 30 minutes’ bus ride away.View on Booking.com -
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Ryokan ToriRyokan Tori is located in Kyoto, 2 km from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. The property is around 2.3 km from Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace. The property is 3.2 km from Kinkaku-ji Temple and 3.7 km from Kyoto International Manga Museum. All guest rooms in the ryokan are fitted with a kettle. Each room has a shared bathroom, while selected rooms are fitted with a balcony and others also offer a garden view. All rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Guests at tori can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Heian Shrine is 5 km from the accommodation. Itami Airport is 50 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Ryokan Mugen (Adult Only)Mugen is a property that was built 160 years ago, situated in Kyoto, 1 km from Nijo Castle. Every room at Mugen features an en suite shower room, toilet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. You will find a shared lounge on site and a bar at the annex building. The ryokan also offers bike hire. Imperial Palace is 1.1 km from Mugen, while Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is 1.6 km from the property. The nearest airport is Osaka Itami Airport, 39 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Mitsuki KyotoOffering a bar and garden view, Mitsuki Kyoto is set in Kyoto, 1.1 km from Nijo Castle and 1.8 km from Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall. Featuring a garden, the 2-star ryokan has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property is 1.4 km from the city centre and 600 metres from Kyoto International Manga Museum. At the ryokan, the units are fitted with a tatami. A fridge and kettle are also featured. At the ryokan, the units are equipped with bed linen and towels. The ryokan serves a vegetarian and vegan breakfast and breakfast in the room is also available. Kyoto Imperial Palace is 2.1 km from Mitsuki Kyoto, while Heian Shrine is 2.3 km away. Itami Airport is 46 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Yado KiramachiYado Kiramachi offers accommodation set 600 metres from the centre of Kyoto and provides a garden and a terrace. The air-conditioned accommodation is 600 metres from Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall. The ryokan features family rooms. The units at the ryokan come with a seating area. The units have a coffee machine, a private bathroom and free WiFi, while selected rooms will provide you with a balcony and some have garden views. At the ryokan, all units include bed linen and towels. A bar can be found on-site. Kyoto International Manga Museum is 1.3 km from the ryokan, while Gion Shijo Station is 1.6 km away. Itami Airport is 45 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Kyo-Anthu InnLocated in Kyoto and within 500 metres of Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyo-Anthu Inn features a garden, soundproof rooms, and free WiFi. It is set 1.3 km from TKP Garden City Kyoto and provides full-day security. The guest house has family rooms. The guest house will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. There is also a well-fitted kitchenette in some of the units equipped with a microwave and a toaster. At the guest house, all units come with bed linen and towels. Guests at the guest house can enjoy a continental breakfast, and breakfast in the room is also available. Popular points of interest near Kyo-Anthu Inn include Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto Station and Gion Shijo Station. Itami Airport is 44 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Hotel MusoWell located in the centre of Kyoto, Hotel Muso provides 3-star accommodation close to Gion Shijo Station and Kyoto Shigaku Kaikan Conference Hall. The property is around 1.8 km from TKP Garden City Kyoto, 2 km from Kyoto International Manga Museum and 2.7 km from Kyoto Station. Providing free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel features a hot tub. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Each room has a kettle, while selected rooms come with a kitchen with a microwave, a minibar and a stovetop. Popular points of interest near Hotel Muso include Sanjusangen-do Temple, Samurai Kembu Kyoto and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Itami Airport is 45 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Kyoto Ryokan Gion SanoLocated in the beautiful Gion area and just a 15-minute walk from Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto Ryokan Gion Sano is a 4-storey reinforced concrete building. It offers traditional Japanese-style rooms with free WiFi. Rooms on the top floor boasts city views of Kyoto and Higashiyama district. Popular Nishiki Market can be reached within a 20-minute walk. The hotel is 600 metres from Kennin-ji Temple and a 10-minute walk from Chion-in Temple. JR Kyoto Train Station is about a 10-minute drive away, and Gion-Shijo Train Station is a 10-minute walk. Guests at Gion Sano Kyoto Ryokan sleep in Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor and can enjoy the en suite bath. Each room comes with an LCD TV, a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea. Guests can try on yukata robes, while enjoying in-room amenities like bottled water, instant soup, coffee and mini sweets. Special toiletries are provided for both male and female guests. Guests can leave their luggage at the front desk for free before they check in, or request to use a laundry machine and clothes dryer for free. Complimentary fruits and coffee is provided upon arrival. No meals are served.View on Booking.com -
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Toshiharu RyokanBuilt in the Meiji era and registered as a cultural asset, Toshiharu Ryokan offers traditional accommodation just a 3-minute walk from Gojo Station and 1 subway stop from JR Kyoto Train Station. Massages are available. Guests at Ryokan Toshiharu sleep in Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor, and have air conditioning. Green tea and a Yukata robe are provided, and some rooms look out on a small garden. The ryokan is 1 km from Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and about a 15-minute walk from Gojo-Ohashi Bridge and the Kamogawa River. Daimaru Department Store is 900 metres away. Although shared, baths are reserved and then used privately in turns. For breakfast, guests can choose to savour a Japanese served at an additional charge.View on Booking.com -
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MarufukuroMarufukuro features free bikes, fitness centre, a garden and shared lounge in Kyoto. Among the various facilities are a bar, a spa and wellness centre, as well as massage services. The hotel provides a terrace, a 24-hour front desk, and free WiFi is available. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Selected rooms are equipped with a kitchen with a microwave. Guest rooms include a wardrobe. An American, Asian or vegetarian breakfast can be enjoyed at the property. Popular points of interest near Marufukuro include Sanjusangen-do Temple, TKP Garden City Kyoto and Gion Shijo Station. Itami Airport is 44 km away.View on Booking.com
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Kyoto Restaurants
Recommended in Kyoto
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Sushi HayashiAwarded One Star in 2024 - A unique sushi restaurant that blends traditional Edomae (Tokyo-style) sushi with Kyoto-style sushi, such as mackerel sushi and steamed sushi, in its courses. The head chef, who trained as a sushi artisan in Switzerland, carefully selects Swiss wines, making them a perfect pairing to enjoy with the meal.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Noguchi TsunaguAwarded One Star in 2024 - The sister restaurant of the highly exclusive Japanese cuisine establishment, Kyotenjin Noguchi. While maintaining the culinary essence of the main branch, this kappo-style restaurant incorporates ingredients from the chef窶冱 hometown in the Goto Islands. Its signature dish, Nikusui, is a masterpiece made from carefully prepared, top-quality A5-grade sirloin.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Kamoryori TabuchiWithin a historic wooden house over 100 years old, savor exquisite dishes crafted with the finest premium brand duck, Kawachi Duck. Raised on feed free from pesticides and delivered fresh every morning, Kawachi Duck is so fresh it can even be enjoyed raw. Indulge in a superb multi-course duck cuisine experience that only a specialty restaurant can offer.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Enyuan KobayashiAwarded One Star in 2024 - Under the skillful craftsmanship of a master chef trained at renowned establishments, this restaurant offers tempura that highlights seasonal ingredients, including richly sweet tiger prawns and their signature sea urchin wrapped in seaweed. Mid-course, the menu also features exquisite simmered dishes and sashimi.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Sushi RakumiAwarded One Star in 2024 - You can savor a creative omakase course that combines refined Japanese cuisine with Edomae sushi, crafted by a highly skilled chef who trained at Japanese restaurants and sushi establishments that have earned three stars. Ingredients are primarily sourced from Kyoto Central Market, with seasonal, high-quality ingredients also procured from Tokyo's Toyosu Market and Yaizu Market in Shizuoka.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Kanamean NishitomiyaAwarded One Star in 2024 - Sophisticated kaiseki cuisine experienced at a ryokan. Combining tuna with caviar or pairing soba noodles with truffles, the dishes showcase a creative approach that explores unique combinations and flavors. The only establishment in Kyoto affiliated with Relais & Chateaux, where the owner and proprietress draw on their experiences gained abroad to collaborate with chefs in crafting the menu.View on JapanEatinerary -
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VenaAwarded One Star in 2024 - A restaurant founded by a chef and sommelier born and raised in Kyoto, built on the concept of carefully selected seasonal ingredients and aged Italian wines. In an elegant space adorned with Scandinavian vintage furniture, guests can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine crafted with an abundance of seasonal ingredients unique to each time of year.View on JapanEatinerary -
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Torisho SaiA newly spotlighted restaurant opened in 2024, part of the group of Yakitori Ichimatsu, one of Japan's most renowned yakitori establishments. Housed in a stylishly renovated traditional Japanese home, the restaurant serves yakitori made with Akita窶冱 "Hinai Jidori," one of Japan窶冱 top three premium chicken breeds, aged for about three days to enhance its flavor.View on JapanEatinerary -
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NakatsukaAwarded One Star in 2024 - A one-of-a-kind restaurant where you can enjoy innovative cuisine crafted by the highly skilled Chef Mr. Nakatsuka, who honed his expertise at domestic and international three-star and two-star establishments. The restaurant is themed around "aroma" and features an open kitchen, designed to share the scents of the cooking process with its guests.View on JapanEatinerary -
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MiyawakiA restaurant with a unique concept of offering traditional Kyoto cuisine in Tokyo, blending authentic techniques with innovative approaches. It is also known for attracting numerous prominent figures from various fields, including renowned Japanese music producers and soccer players.View on JapanEatinerary
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Experiences around Kyoto
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SponsoredTea Plantation Tour and Organic Green Tea Tasting in the Birthplace of Japanese Green Tea, KyotoFounded in 1658 in the Kyoto town of Ujitawara – the birthplace of Japanese green tea – the Kaki-i plantation grows tea completely without the use of pesticides. In this experience, visitors can join the 21st generation head of the plantation to tour its fields and see historical sites associated with Soen Nagatani, who first developed the Japanese green tea enjoyed around the world today. If your seasonal timing is right, you can also observe the tea harvest or the processing of the leaf. Finally, enjoy a comparative tasting of 3 to 4 of Kaki-i’s organic teas in a 150-year-old traditional Japanese home, and learn how best to enjoy each.View experienceSponsored -
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SponsoredPrivate Stay at World Heritage Site Ninna-ji With Special Tour and Bewitching Light-UpExperience Ninna-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with deep links to the imperial family, like no other through an overnight stay inside the grounds. During a special private tour led by one of its monks, enter some of the oldest surviving temple buildings in all of Japan, such as the Great Hall (a National Treasure), which is normally closed to the public. Then, the grounds are yours for the night - after the sun sets, explore the lit-up grounds and take advantage of the lovingly curated accommodation, a former temple samurai residence (dinner also available as an optional add-on). Finally, refresh yourself by joining the monks’ morning service and Dharma sermon, as well as drawing rock patterns.View experienceSponsored -
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SponsoredKiyomizu Ware Pottery Experience at a Century-Old Kiln in KyotoBased in Kyoto, the reputable Shoukoku Kiln, which was established more than 100 years ago, creates exquisite ceramic tableware that high-end ryotei restaurants use for kappo fine-dining cuisine. At this prestigious kiln that preserves tradition while constantly seeking innovation, discover the secrets to long-lasting, high-quality ceramics as you hand-build or paint pottery under the guidance of a skilled artisan who has mastered the art of Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki ceramic ware.View experienceSponsored -
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SponsoredLearn the Art of Karesansui Dry-Garden Raking from a Kyoto MasterKyoto’s Sagano-Arashiyama district is an iconic landmark, beloved by visitors from all over Japan and the world for its harmony of rich natural scenery and historic architecture. Here, the cultural property garden restoration and maintenance organization Sone Zoen – responsible for designing and managing the gardens of famous shrines and temples across Kyoto – runs the “Hogan” facility, which offers visitors the chance to experience authentic Zen sand raking in a traditional Japanese house and garden. Find inner tranquility as you contemplate the garden’s beauty, before experiencing the spirit of Zen and the historic tradition of karesansui dry gardening through sand-raking with a master.View experienceSponsored -
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SponsoredMaiko Tea and Entertainment with Behind-the-Scenes Insights at Kyoto’s Oldest Geisha DistrictGain valuable insights into Kyoto’s historic geisha culture at Umeno, a traditional ochaya banquet house in Kamishichiken, the oldest of Kyoto’s five geisha districts. Although ochaya generally turn away new customers, Umeno’s proprietress-to-be invites you to watch a maiko’s (apprentice geisha) elegant dance and learn about her culture. Then, chat with them over sweets and matcha tea personally prepared by the maiko. After trying a traditional party game and snapping some pictures, hear about Umeno’s sustainable practices and enter the dressing room used by its maiko, an extremely rare chance to go behind the scenes.View experienceSponsored
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Top rated in Kyoto
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Kyoto Kimono Rental Momoka: Japanese-style Make-up/PhotographyBasic okomon kimono plan: [Included in the fee]: Only okomon kimono and half-width obi are included [Excluded from the fee]: Small bag, tabi socks, rental sandals, muscle wear, and corrections are not includedView on Klook -
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Matcha Ceremony Experience in KyotoYou can enjoy watching the tea ceremony by the teacher and experience the tea ceremony. Comes with matcha and Japanese sweets!View on Klook -
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Handmade Workshop Experience in KyotoA townhouse with a nostalgic atmosphere. Feel free to visit the museum inside the store.View on Klook -
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Private Kyoto Gion Highlights & Hidden Gems Tour with Local GuideExperience the best of Gion’s nightlife scene with a local insider to guide youView on Klook -
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Kyoto City Highlights & Hidden Gems Private Custom Tour with a LocalGet to know the real Kyoto with your host (a city local) and avoid the tourist traps, whilst still seeing the highlights!View on Klook -
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Samurai Experience & Kenbu Show in KyotoShort time cultural experience with lesson & showView on Klook -
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Kyoto 4 Hour Low-Down Private Walking TourSee a tailor-made selection of sites, picked by your local guide, that show every side of KyotoView on Klook -
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Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour: Bamboo Forest, Monkeys, Zen & SecretsSaga-Arashiyama Station: Meet at the Saga-Arashiyama Station, where you can take a few minutes to explore the surrounding area and get acquainted with your group.View on Klook -
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Maiko and a Samurai Makeover Experience for CoupleChange into a beautiful Maiko and a cool SamuraView on Klook
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