投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine

One of the three main shrines bearing the name Hachimangu, Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine was dedicated to a god for the protection of the nation in 860. After the main shrine was restored by Oda Nobunaga and its cloister rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Iemitsu built an additional ten shrine buildings in 1634, all of which are a part of this National Treasure.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Marukyu Koyama-en

Kujiro Koyama began cultivating tea here in the Genroku era (1688-1704). After four generations, the family expanded into sales, and after eight generations they expanded their market to reach across Japan. Even now, continuing 300 years after its establishment, they continue to make tea with a focus on flavor and safety, with "quality-oriented tea production" as their guiding principle. Everything from cultivation to production is done in-house, and in order to continually improve the quality of their teas, they also frequently enter their products into tea competitions. As a result, they have made the prestigious achievement of receiving the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Award.
Marukyu Koyama-en's wide lineup includes matcha tea, high-grade gyokuro tea, and sencha tea, as well as matcha-flavored sweets and beverages.

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Kasagi Camping Ground

Kasagi Campground is located in southern Kyoto prefecture along the Kizu River. The campground has over 30,000 sq. meters of camping space and is easily accessible from Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Same day reservations are allowed and the affordable price make it an excellent spot to get way from the city and relax.
The campground offers: Kitchen facilities, western style toilets (please bring your own toilet paper) and garbage sites. Showers can be found at several nearby locations including Kasagi BBQ Company M5 (300 yen per 15 mins) near the campground entrance and Shimagahara Onsen “Yabuccha” around a 20 minute (15.7km) drive from the campsite.
The campground has lots to do besides camping. You can swim in the river, go canoeing, rocking climbing, or fishing. The most popular activity, however, is having a barbeque next to the river. Barbeque sets can be rented but open fires are also allowed. In spring, the campground’s Sakura trees bloom and you can camp under the Sakura blossoms. In summer, the clear night sky is perfect for star gazing.
Kasagiyama National Park is also located nearby. The park includes hiking trails, interesting rock formations, and historic sites and temples of national importance. It is the perfect place to spend the day before camping overnight.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Eshin-in Temple

Eshin-in Temple is also known as the "Temple of Flowers," and in spring and autumn, the garden becomes home to vast swathes of flowers that soothe the heart and calm the mind. Tradition has it that the temple began as the ancient temple of Ryusen-ji. Some time later, it was restored by the monk Genshin (Eshin Sozu), renowned as the author of the text "Ojo Yoshu" ("The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land").

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Aodani Plum Grove

Commanding a distant view of the holy mountain Jubo, the Aodani Plum Grove spreads out over the gently sloping hills bordering the crystalline Aodani River. The 20-hectare plum grove has been reknowned as a scenic spot since olden times. Its 10,000 plum trees are mainly of white-blossomed varieties, such as the large and fragrant Joshuhaku, Joyo City's plum species. The Plum Festival is held every year from late February to late March.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Uji River Islands Tonoshima & Tachibanajima

Tonoshima and Tachibanajima Islands are collectively called Nakanoshima (islands in the middle of the river). There is a beautiful 13-story pagoda around 15 meters tall on Tonoshima. It was built in the Late Kamakura period (1192-1333) by the monk Eison, of Nara's Saidai-ji Temple, to pray for the souls of fish. The pagoda, which was buried by the river in a flood in 1756, was rediscovered and rebuilt towards the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912).
The flood levees are famous for the cherry trees that flower there. In early April, the Ujigawa Cherry Blossom Festival is held on the island, which has now become a park.

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Yodo River Park Sewaritei District

This park is located to the north of Iwashimizu Hachimangu Station on the Keihan Line, just across Goko Bridge. Here, you'll find a line of cherry blossom trees that extends for about 1.4 kilometers. The trees were planted at the separation levee where the Kizu-gawa and Uji-gawa Rivers merge, forming a band of flowers in early April. The surrounding area is a riverside park with a large lawn and a lookout area.

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Zenporitsu-ji Temple (Maple Temple)

Zenporitsu-ji Temple, located in the southeast of Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Yawata City, Kyoto, was donated by Zenpoujikyusei, the officer of Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, in 1257 as a dormitory for the monks. Jissou-Shonin, a master from Todai-ji Temple in Nara, was invited to be the founder of the temple.
It is said that Ryoko, the great-granddaughter of Zenpoujikyusei, married Ashikaga Yoshiakira and gave birth to the third generation Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and was deeply tied to the Muromachi Shogun family.
Many maple trees (momiji) donated by Ryoko are planted in the gardens, and in autumn, nearly 100 maple trees turn red, creating beautiful scenery that has earned the temple the name of “Momiji Temple.”
The main hall and the front gate are designated as cultural assets of Kyoto Prefecture. In addition, the temple has a total of 9 designated cultural assets of Yawata City, such as its seated statue of Amida Buddha (Amida Nyorai) with jewel crown and the seated statue of the Yawata Buddhist monk (Reservations are required for visits of the interior of the main hall).

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Mt. Kasagi / Kasagi-yama Maple Park

Mt. Kasagi in Kasagi rises 288 meters about the south bank of the Kizu River. It is home to many strange and mysterious rock formations giving it the nickname “Megalith Theme Park” and is designated as a historic scenic spot in Japan. Although it is not an easy hike, anyone with average ability can reach the top and enjoy the spectacular views.
From the top of the mountain, it looks like you are on an island floating in a sea of clouds. The view from the top of the mountain was a popular place to moon gaze during the Edo Period. The view is particular spectacular during the autumn season when the entire 3,000 sq. meter river valley is covered in carpet of red maple leaves
Mt. Kasagi is of great historical significance. It is home to a Shingon Buddhist temple of the Chisan School with historic connections to Todaiji on nearby Nara. Famous monks such as Jokei have lived at the temple and Yamabushi, or warrior hermits said to be imbued with supernatural powers, are said to have trained here; making it an important part of Japanese Buddhist history. What’s more, in the late Kamakura period (1185–1333), it was also the stage of foiled plot kill the shogun by the 96th Emperor Go-Daigo.

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Sarumaru Shrine

The shrine is dedicated to Sarumaru Dayu, who was a traditional waka poet. One of his famous poems was included in Hyakunin Isshu (a classical anthology): “Autumn at its saddest - Rustling through the leaves and moving on alone deep into the mountains, I hear a lonely stag belling for his doe.” Currently, the shrine's deity is widely worshipped as a deity "to remove bumps" and “to prevent cancer." The shrine's monthly festival is held on the 13th of every month, and the main festival (Taisai) on April 13th and September 13th. The fire festival will be held on June 13th and December 13th.
Autumn leaves around the temple grounds turn red in late November, a sight which is well worth seeing.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Shokado Garden Art Museum

Shokado Garden Art Museum is associated with Shokado Shojo (1584-1639), who was a buddhist priest from Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.
Shokado Garden has an area of approximately 20,000㎡, and the Soan Shokado, where Shojo lived after his retirement (currently closed to visitors due to the earthquake of June 18, 2018). The garden is also home to three tearooms, Sho-in, Chiku-in, and Bai-in. In the garden, in addition to more than 40 kinds of bamboo and nearly 200 camellia trees, plum trees, cherry trees, green maple trees and Japanese maple trees can also be found, creating beautiful scenery across all four seasons.
Shokado Art Museum has special exhibitions held in spring and autumn each year, and exhibitions focused on the museum collections around three times a year.

投稿タイプ：sightseeing

Jindo-ji Temple

Located in the mountains of the Tea infused region of Kyoto, just outskirts of Kizugawa city, Jindo-ji Temple is home to a many hidden treasures. The grounds turn various shades of pink and purple with cherry blossoms and azaleas which form a tunnel of flowers over the stone steps leading up to the bell tower in spring. The temple also houses numerous important cultural properties which can be seen via a guided tour with a priest.
Jindo-ji is said to have been built by Prince Shotoku in 596 and later prospered as a dojo for the Shugendo School of mountain asceticism. The mountain where it resides once was home to many temples but all were burned down in a fire with only Jindo-ji being rebuilt in 1406. It is said that the main statue of the temple was carved when the founder of Shugendo, En no Gyoja, while he practiced on the mountain.
Including the main hall (Zao-do), built in the Muromachi period, there are six important cultural properties in the storage: the wooden Fudo Myo-ou statue, the wooden Aizen Myo-ou sitting statue, the wooden Amida Nyorai sitting statue, the Bishamon Ten standing statue, the Nikko Bosatsu statue, and the Gekko (Moonlight) Bodhisattva statue.
It is recommended you walk to the temple from Tanakura station on the JR Nara line so you can enjoy the view of the tea fields and refreshing mountain air.