Kyoto Arashiyama Day Trip from Osaka: Train, Hot Springs, and Cherry Blossom Viewing

Spring cherry blossom viewing isn't limited to Tokyo! Kyoto's Arashiyama also offers the chance to admire the vibrant pink and white blossoms. Take a short train ride and admire a tunnel of cherry blossoms interwoven with the blossoms. After the train ride, visit Arashiyama Fufu Onsen, known as the "Beauty's Hot Spring," for a refreshing and nourishing experience. Finally, visit the historic Yasaka Shrine, where you can not only experience the solemn atmosphere but also pray for good health and various other wishes!

- Attractions | Kyoto Arashiyama Day Trip -

▲Arashiyama Train

Torokko were originally small box-type freight trains used to transport goods on tracks inaccessible to trucks and regular trains. The simple, gurgling freight train chugs along slowly. The Sagano Sightseeing Train is perhaps the most representative example of this image.

At an average speed of approximately 25 kilometers per hour, roughly the same as a fast bicycle, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Hozu River and the valley below. The 7.3-kilometer, approximately 25-minute one-way journey takes you through the mountains, where spring brings a blanket of cherry blossoms, summer brings vibrant greenery, autumn brings a blanket of red maple leaves, and winter brings a solitude that occasionally transforms into a world of white. The train offers a unique experience, showcasing different views depending on the season.

In particularly scenic areas, the train slows down, allowing passengers to savor the scenery more slowly. This is a breathtaking valley scene only available on the train.

You might even be able to capture photos of scenery others won't be able to capture!

▲ Fufu Onsen

Fufu-no-Yu, located just a one-minute walk from Arashiyama Station, is a renowned day-trip hot spring facility in Arashiyama. Open until 10 PM (last admission at 9 PM), it's a convenient spot for those on a busy schedule.

The hot springs at Fufu-no-Yu are known for their effectiveness against neuralgia, muscle aches, and other conditions, as well as their skin-beautifying properties. The facility offers an open-air bath and two types of saunas. Although there's a fee, Fufu-no-Yu offers a towel rental service, allowing anyone to enjoy the hot springs! Relieve the fatigue of daily work or travel at Fufu-no-Yu and rejuvenate your body!

▲ Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine, home to the Gion Festival, which dates back over 1,100 years, was founded thousands of years ago. The deity enshrined there, a deity that has long been known to ward off plague and disease, is now beloved by the locals as "Gion-san." There are many theories about its origins, but one theory is that in 656, a visiting envoy from Goryeo during the Joseon Dynasty brought the mythical deity Susanoo to Yasaka-go, Yamashiro Province, near the present-day Yasaka Shrine.

Susanoo is enshrined here, along with his wife, Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto, and other deities, including Oichihime-no-mikoto, Sami Ryohime-no-mikoto, and Hachira-mikoto.

The temple also enshrines the deity of prosperity and the god of wealth named after Ebisu. Among the nation's wealth-dedicated shrines, this one faces north, a rare feature, earning it the nickname "Hiroshi-ko-shrine." Osaka's Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is also renowned nationwide for its wealth-dedicated structure. When the residents of Yasaka Shrine (formerly known as Gion Shrine) relocated to Imamiya, they enshrined the Gion god of wealth, thus establishing the Imamiya Ebisu shrine.

Also, there's Migozen Shrine, which enshrines the highly esteemed Munakata Three Goddesses. Sacred water gushes forth from the shrine, known for its brightening properties and meticulously crafted "beauty water."

While visiting, be sure to see the main hall and west tower gate, designated as important national cultural properties. The extensive restoration work completed in 2007 marked the beginning of a major renovation since 1994. Also designated as an Important Cultural Property of the country is the stone torii gate located south of the Minami-romon Gate, the main entrance to Yasaka Shrine. Built of natural stone, it boasts the largest stone torii gate in Japan and is a must-see.