Arashiyama

A short train ride to the outskirts of Kyoto took us from bustling city streets to a little taste of Japanese nature.  Most people come to Arashiyama to visit the Bamboo Grove.  To be honest, that site takes about 10-15 minutes to go through when there's no crowds, but there are many other sites to see here.

Above our heads tower solemn bamboo and rainy grey skies.

7:30 am.  The Bamboo Grove.  No one else but us and the crickets.

There are many little paths around the area that loop between temples, farmland, and country houses.

A gentle incline leads to a stunning viewpoint over the Oi River where we watched the morning mist hover between the mountains.

The 400 year old wooden Togetsyu bridge is a landmark of the area encircled by shops and restaurants.

Boat rentals along the Oi River offer beautiful views of Mount Arashi.

There are quite a few temples here, although the distance between them is a bit of a hike.

The main temple to visit: Tenryu-ji (Temple of the Heavenly Dragon).  The buildings were destroyed by fire eight timessince its inception in 1339.  The current buildings are from the Meji era ( 1868-1912).

This stunning artwork is actually a replica, part of Tsuzuri project which uses technology to create high quality copies of Japanese artwork.  Amazing what a little ink and washi paper can yield.

The Sogenchi Garden.  Designed by Zen Master Muso Soseki.  The perfect embodiment of peace, tranquility, and serenity.

Okay, so the buildings of Tenryu-ji have come and gone several times over, but the Sogenchi gardens survived from the fourteenth century making them one of the oldest landscape gardens in Japan.

An extra $3 allows us entry into the main hall and surrounding covered walkways for a unique way to experience the gardens.

As we went deeper into the gardens they began to have an almost otherworldly feel.

Look closely, the forest floors are carpeted in tendrils of moss, lending a certain softness to the landscape.