Hi there!
If you’re in Arashiyama during a time when it’s the peak of fall foliage all over Kyoto, then you’ll likely find crowds all around. But, there is good reason for that! There are lots of fall colors to be seen at the temples in Arashiyama!
And if you want to escape the Arashiyama crowds a little bit, you can head to a few of the smaller temples in the Sagano Arashiyama area!
And that can include Hokyo-in Temple! (This may also be written as Houkyo-in Temple.)
There will still be people around at this small temple, but just not AS many people as the main area of Arashiyama.
I was at Hokyo-in in early December 2019.
And there was lots of red, orange, and yellow to be seen with a walk around the temple grounds! This is a pretty small area to walk around.
How much does the Hokyo-in Temple entry fee cost?
The cost of the Hokyo-in Temple entry fee was 500 yen (US$5) when I went.
See pictures below of fall colors in Kyoto!
🗾🍁
And now…
The fall foliage you might see with a walk around the Hokyo-In Temple!
…aka photos to see koyo (fall foliage!) in Kyoto!
And that’s a bit of what you might see around the peak of fall colors in Arashiyama at Hokyo-In Temple!
Other smaller temples to visit in the area for falls colors include Nison-In Temple and Jojakkoji Temple. You can make your way to these temples after a visit to Hokyo-in Temple, as you then continue make your way to the main (crowded!) area of Arashiyama. You can pass by Okochi Sanso Garden before going through the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest, and then onwards to Tenryuji Temple for more fall colors!
HAPPY SEEING AUTUMN COLORS IN ARASHIYAMA AT HOKYO-IN TEMPLE!
For more fall colors, be sure to see the 3-day Kyoto itinerary for a fall foliage photo walk!
DAY 1: Walk from Tofukuji to Kiyomizu-dera
- Tofukuji Temple (including the zen garden)
- Chishaku-In Temple
- Myoho-In Temple
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
DAY 2: Around the Philosopher's Path
- Daimonji-yama hike
- Ginkakuji Temple (non-autumn photos)
- Philosopher's Path walk (summer photos and cherry blossom spring photos)
- Honen-In Temple
- Eikando Temple
- Nanzenji Temple
DAY 3: Around Arashiyama
- Hokyo-in Temple
- Nison-In Temple
- Jojakkoji Temple
- Okochi Sanso Gardens
- Arashiyama bamboo forest (non-autumn photos)
- Tenryuji Temple (non-autumn photos)
DAY 1: Walk from Tofukuji to Kiyomizu-dera
- Tofukuji Temple (including the zen garden)
- Chishaku-In Temple
- Myoho-In Temple
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
DAY 2: Around the Philosopher's Path
- Daimonji-yama hike
- Ginkakuji Temple (non-autumn photos)
- Philosopher's Path walk (summer photos and cherry blossom spring photos)
- Honen-In Temple
- Eikando Temple
- Nanzenji Temple
DAY 3: Around Arashiyama
- Hokyo-in Temple
- Nison-In Temple
- Jojakkoji Temple
- Okochi Sanso Gardens
- Arashiyama bamboo forest (non-autumn photos)
- Tenryuji Temple (non-autumn photos)
Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!
Is a JR pass worth it?!
- Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
- In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
- Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
- So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
- Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs.
- And compare!
- Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.
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