Okochi Sanso Garden — Attraction in Kyoto

The garden is really lovely and there is tea and water at the end of the trail. It's not fresh matcha but it is free so don't complain about free things. Please look carefully if you cannot find it. There are no sweets involved nor is it advertised when you buy the ticket. So don't complain about that either. The garden will close at 5:00 p.m. so if you want a full experience, do not buy tickets at 4:30 p.m. please be considerate of the other guests and staff and please do not be the tourist at yodels at the top of the mountain. Please do not complain about how many tourists there are in the garden. You are a tourist here as well? The view at the top of the mountain is 10 out of 10 and during the hike there are beautiful scenic points pretty much every 10 m you walk.

Maybe there are cheaper and free gardens around. But if you can't afford the price of the garden, please don't complain about the price, the garden needs to be maintained and that costs money. I had a great time and I was curious about the negative reviews so hopefully this helps you to make an informed decision.

I hope everyone has a great time except the inconsiderate man yodeling at the top of the mountain.

I came in December and it was not crowded, but during spring and autumn it probably will be. I think it's illogical to complain about the crowds if you are a part of the crowd.

Enjoy...

On humid summer days when the crowds are at a maximum and every corner of the shaded bamboo path are fraught with screams, follow the call of the cicada up the wide path into the deeper shade. It looks private on purpose, to drive away the tourist hordes. There always seems to be a work truck parked out front and the confusing entrance (located around a bend) is not altogether inviting. The 1000 cost of admission is high enough to keep the kids out and allows for the expanse of Mt. Ogura to open up and swallow you whole. Just behind Tenryūji Temple and Sagano Chikurin Komichi bamboo groves in Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, wandering through the ornate gardens will provide snatches of Mt. Hiei and the Hozu River gorge. Taking a moment out at the Okochi Sanso Villa Observation Platform overlooking the hustle of downtown Kyoto gives one perspective on the tranquility of the scene. Taking your time and strolling without desire increases the profound sense of benevolence that shrouds you in. Relaxing in the lower garden with the matcha and a sweet snack, done properly, will perhaps provide a memory of meditating monks from the collective unconscious to arise and...

On our previous visit to Arashiyama, we hadn't visited the Okochi Sanso garden as there was lots of fall colours in the distance to the South. But this year, with a hot fall (it was probably high 20C's), the leaves were still mostly green. So we thought we'll check out this garden.

And it was such a great and pleasant surprise! Even when walking up the driveway, we got a sense of it being planned and managed without being manicured. So still very peaceful. And interesting to read the history and intentions of the builder (a famous film star from long ago).

The place is well signposted and we're supposed to keep to the directions, which is good as it takes us to view all the areas and the views. No pressure as it wasn't crowded so if we liked a spot, we stayed and let others pass us by. We spent a very pleasant hour of so walking in the gardens and looking at the well preserved buildings.

At the end, there's a washroom and a tea-house. That last is a bit of a let-down. Really production line green tea, served (I think) with condensed milk as I don't recall having such sweet green tea before. I think Okochi Denjiro would be spinning...