Gliding Dragon. This is not a creature from a fairy tale. It is a famous pine tree near WEC JP Rakusai. But first, let’s explore the Rakusai area. This area remains largely undiscovered by Kyoto tourists. Rakusai offers lovely temples and shrines. You can reach it in an hour from Kyoto’s center.
Rakusai is vibrant with natural sights. The temples are exquisite during the autumn and cherry blossom months. Visit in September to see unusual sunflowers blossoming off-season.
To delve deeper into Rakusai, head past flower fields to Yoshimine-dera. This hidden mountain temple is a beautiful treat any season. As you leave Higashimuko Station, the outskirts of Kyoto show extraordinary green in warm months. Rice fields flow with ripe rice grasses in autumn. If you are lucky, winter offers a snowscape. I visited in early summer during Japan’s rainy season. Mist hangs between the mountains. Bright shoots of new rice plants peek through the glassy paddies.
Watch your step at the last bus stop. You are on Kyoto’s western mountain. The air feels fresh and cool here. A little creek rushes downhill. A tiny bridge with bright red railings marks the entrance to Yoshimine-dera Temple. Before the temple gate, walk up several slopes. The views through the temple complex make it worthwhile.
Emerging from maple trees, Yoshimine-dera Temple’s gate impresses. It is a dark-wood structure accented in white. It looks particularly atmospheric in the morning mist. Pass through it to the grand main hall atop steps. Though Fushimi Inari Shrine’s torii gates are famous, a scene from Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed at Yoshimine-dera Temple.
The temple grounds cover much of the hillside. Winding paths lead to discoveries. Round a corner to find a nook or an impressive view. On a clear day, see the Oharano area and Kyoto. Kyoto lacks tall buildings, but Kyoto Tower stands out. You might glimpse the bullet train leaving Kyoto Station.
Yoshimine-dera Temple was founded in 1029 by the Buddhist priest Gensan. Many original buildings were lost in fire. They were rebuilt in the 1600s. Elements of 15th-century architectural styles appear such as the flower-petal-shaped kato-mado windows.
The temple also features natural monuments. The Gliding Dragon is a 600-year-old pine tree. It grows horizontally like a dragon’s twisting body. This rare Japanese white pine grows sturdy and low. Its thick pine needles shield its trunk. The Gliding Dragon was once 50 meters long. Now it stands at 37 meters and is a nationally-recognized Natural Monument.
Yoshimine-dera Temple is a hidden gem for autumn foliage. Its weeping cherry trees are equally stunning. One cherry tree stands tall nearly 300 years old. Its drooping branches are supported by stilts. In early summer, Yoshimine-dera Temple displays 8,000 hydrangeas. The mountain mist and raindrops on the petals enhance the temple’s aesthetic. The charm of Rakusai lies in Kyoto’s deep history and rich natural surroundings. A step outside the city center is worth the fresh Kyoto air. WEC JP Rakusai and Yoshimine-dera Temple offer a serene escape. Both are treasures in the Rakusai area.