When people think of Kyoto, images of Kiyomizu-dera and Gion often come to mind. Yet the city’s deeper charm lies beyond the tourist trails—in places where the pace slows, and the seasons speak through the landscape. Just a short journey from the city center, the Arashiyama and Sagano area offers a serene, sensory-rich experience surrounded by mountains and rivers.
Step off the train at Hankyu Arashiyama Station or JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, and you’ll be greeted by the timeless view of Togetsukyo Bridge, stretching over the Katsura River. This spot has inspired poets since the Heian period, and its beauty is ever-changing: cherry blossoms in spring, lush green maples in summer, vivid autumn foliage, and quiet snow in winter. Even sitting on a riverside bench, letting the breeze brush against you, can feel like a moment of profound connection.
One of Arashiyama’s great pleasures is the ability to explore it slowly on foot. Among its highlights is the Bamboo Grove Path, where tall green stalks stretch skyward, forming a canopy of light and sound. The gentle rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind becomes a calming, meditative rhythm. Visit in the early morning, and you may find yourself alone in a magical corridor of bamboo and light—a moment of pure tranquility.
その竹林を抜けた先にあるのが、「嵯峨野トロッコ列車」。トロッコ嵯峨駅から保津峡を抜けてトロッコ亀岡駅までをつなぐ全長7.3kmの観光列車で、時速25kmというゆっくりとしたスピードが、車窓の風景をより豊かに感じさせてくれる。春は桜のトンネル、夏は深緑の渓谷、秋は燃えるような紅葉、そして冬には川霧と雪景色が広がる。窓のない「ザ・リッチ号」に乗れば、風や香りまで五感で味わうことができる。
トロッコの終点・亀岡からは、保津川下りで嵐山へ戻るのも風流なルート。船頭の巧みな竿さばきで、渓流を滑るように進む舟の上では、都会では決して出会えない“音のない時間”が流れる。途中には岩を縫うような急流もあり、穏やかな景色の中にも小さな冒険の要素がある。
食もこの旅の楽しみのひとつ。嵐山界隈には、湯豆腐や湯葉といった京料理を出す老舗が点在し、景色を眺めながらの昼食や抹茶と和菓子のひと休みが心を整えてくれる。嵐山公園の展望台からは、季節ごとの山並みと川が織りなす立体的な風景が一望でき、旅の記憶を深く焼きつけてくれるだろう。
京都の名所は数あれど、嵐山と嵯峨野は、観光というより“滞在”の魅力を教えてくれる場所だ。あえてスケジュールを詰めず、ゆっくりと自然と対話しながら過ごすことで、時間がほぐれ、心に余白が生まれる。定番を一度離れて、自分だけの京都を見つける──その第一歩にふさわしいエリアが、嵐山なのかもしれない。
Just beyond the bamboo grove lies one of Arashiyama’s most enchanting experiences—the Sagano Scenic Railway. Stretching 7.3 kilometers from Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station, this vintage sightseeing train winds slowly—at just 25 km/h—through the breathtaking Hozugawa Gorge. The relaxed pace invites you to absorb every detail of the changing scenery: cherry blossoms forming a tunnel in spring, vibrant green ravines in summer, fiery leaves in autumn, and misty, snow-dusted landscapes in winter. For an even more immersive experience, ride the open-air “The Rich Car”, where you can feel the breeze and smell the forest—a sensory journey in every sense.
From Kameoka, you can return to Arashiyama via the Hozugawa River Boat Ride—a poetic route that glides through nature’s silence. Guided by expert boatmen using long bamboo poles, the ride offers a gentle yet immersive encounter with Kyoto’s wilder side. Occasionally, you’ll pass narrow rapids that add a hint of adventure to the otherwise tranquil voyage—a rhythm that stirs without ever rushing.
Of course, no visit is complete without a taste of Kyoto’s culinary heritage. Around Arashiyama, long-established restaurants serve classic kaiseki dishes like yudofu (tofu hot pot) and yuba (tofu skin), making for a calming midday meal. A cup of matcha and a seasonal wagashi sweet, taken in view of the landscape, becomes a pause that restores the soul. For a final panoramic memory, the Arashiyama Park Observation Deck offers sweeping views of river and mountain, layered in seasonal colors—a quiet yet powerful image to take with you.
Among Kyoto’s many famed sites, Arashiyama and Sagano offer something subtler and more profound. Rather than sightseeing, they invite you to stay, to slow down and enter into dialogue with nature. Leave your schedule open. Let time unfold gently. In doing so, you may find not just a beautiful view, but a deeper sense of yourself—and a Kyoto uniquely your own.