663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0

A tranquil hillside temple at the far northwest edge of Sagano, famous for roughly 1,200 whimsical moss-covered rakan (arhat) stone statues carved by amateur pilgrims between 1981 and 1991, each with a unique expression. Founded around 766 and relocated here in 1922, it sits above the old Toriimoto preserved street, well beyond where most Arashiyama day-trippers turn back.

Best season

Autumn (nov); moss most vivid in the june rainy season

Crowd level

Moderate

Rating

4.7· 4,151 reviews

Opening hours

Mon–Tue 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Wed Closed Thu–Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sat Closed Sun 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Usual hours — confirm with the official site for holidays + seasonal closures.

Nearest station

JR Saga-Arashiyama Station (then bus/walk)

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