Explore after the workshop
Hang around in a quieter part of Kyoto
If you've signed up for my 2-hour workshop or have an appointment to visit my studio, you should take this chance to explore the area. Here are a few lesser-known spots near the workshop that I highly recommend. If you're looking for serene locations in Kyoto and want to step off the beaten path, consider adding these peaceful spots to your itinerary! They are all walking distance from my studio.
Saihoji, the Moss Temple (5 min away)
Jizo-in, the Bamboo Temple (5 min away)
Local soba restaurant for lunch (3 min away)
Bamboo café (1 min away)
Matuso Taisha (15 min away)
1- Saihoji, the Moss Garden
I was blown away by the tranquil beauty of this garden and it is probably my favourite garden in Kyoto. You will enjoy it if you like being submerged by the vivid green moss and the calming sound of a water stream.
It is only open to a limited number of visitors to keep it quiet and ensure a relaxing experience. For this reason the entry cost is higher than your usual temple garden, but it’s worth the experience! For a long time, you had to send a handwritten postcard to make a reservation. But recently the temple has modernized its application process and you can book online (and in English!). You won’t be able to visit without a reservation so make sure to do so if you wish to visit after the workshop! They close at 13:00 so you can book the 12:00 session, it is a 5-minute walk from the workshop.
The peaceful pound of Saihoji
For more photos of Saihoji you can see my gallery here
2- Jizo-in, the Bamboo Temple
Nestled among the bamboo, this one is much lesser-known than Saihoji but offers an equally peaceful retreat. It is smaller and and I highly recommend visiting if you are looking for tranquil sightseeing away from the crowds, especially if you are coming in the late autumn, the colours are beautiful. There is an open room where you can sit and admire the peaceful garden.
Its name, Jizo (地蔵), in Japanese ’womb of the earth’ refers to a stone statue made in the image of Jizo Bosatsu, the guardian deity of children and travellers. While the temple does feature some Jizo statues, it is not densely populated with them, as it was partly destroyed in the Onin war and later rebuilt during the Edo period.
The autumn colors will usually start to pop at the end of November.
📍Access
Jizōin Temple (Take-no-tera) 地蔵院（竹寺）
Open daily from 9:00 to 16:00
500¥/pers.
3- Local soba restaurant for lunch
In this little family-owned restaurant, you can enjoy a delicious bowl of soba, buckwheat noodles. For decades, the shop has served its specials to the visitors coming back from Saihoji and is also very appreciated by the locals, myself included! On the menu: Nishin soba, noodles served with a sweet soy sauce marinated herring and Tororo soba, noodles served with grated yam and raw egg yolk and sprinkled with seaweed powder to remind you of the beautiful moss garden next door. This second option is delicious if you like the slimy textures of Japanese cuisine. And then, the rest of the menu offers variations of these two dishes (hot/cold, with rice etc.), along with traditional sweets and ice creams.
4- Bamboo Coffee
This speciality coffee has served organic fair trade coffee, premium matcha latte and sweets since 2021. Besides the desire to offer high-quality beverages, the owner created built Bamboo Coffee in order to preserve its unique garden: a replicate of the Golden pavilion, entirely made of bamboo mosaic in the 1950’s and 60’s by artist Seisuke Nagano. (1887–1967), a celebrated bamboo craftsman known as Taketori no Ou (The Bamboo Cutter King). Sip your coffee in a truly unique historical landmark.
The main gate was created with floating wood that Nagano collected around Japan.
5- Matsuo Taisha
Matsuo Taisha is one of Kyoto’s oldest shrines, supposedly the oldest for some, founded in the year 701. The god of sake is worshipped there, and despite being a very important shrine for Shinto beliefs, it is so much more quieter than the other big shrines you can visit in Kyoto. I recommend stopping there at last, so you can walk back to Matsuo Taisha train station where you can get the Hankyu Line for Arashiyama or to go back in town.
Where is my studio?
It is in the Matsumurojikecho district, South of Arashiyama. You find the exact address on Google Maps but I will give it to you when you make an appointment. If you want a precise idea, it is just a minute's walk from Bamboo Coffee!
I hope to see you there!
