🍁 Solo Serenity: Jōjakkō-ji Temple – Kyoto’s Hidden Mossy Sanctuary

#summervacay **📍 Where?** Arashiyama, Kyoto (15min walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station) **⏰ Best Time?** **November** (fiery autumn leaves) or **June** (emerald moss season) --- ### **✨ Why Solo Travelers Love Jōjakkō-ji** - **🍂 Secret Autumn Vistas** – Fewer crowds than nearby Tenryū-ji, with equally stunning foliage - **🌿 Enchanted Moss Garden** – A velvety green world straight out of a Ghibli film - **📸 Hidden Photo Spots** – Bamboo grove behind the main hall & the Nio-mon gate tunnel - **🎋 Spiritual Solitude** – Meditate in the **Taichō-ryūkan** hall with mountain views --- ### **🚆 Solo-Friendly Access** 1. **From Kyoto Station:** - JR Sagano Line → Saga-Arashiyama Station (15min) → Scenic 15min walk through bamboo forests 2. **Pro Hack:** Arrive at **7:30am** (opens early) to have the temple to yourself --- ### **🌅 Perfect Solo Itinerary** - **7:30 AM:** Enter with morning mist still clinging to the moss - **8:30 AM:** Tea at **% Arabica Arashiyama** (world-famous latte art) - **10:00 AM:** Explore nearby **Gio-ji Temple** (equally magical moss garden) - **12:00 PM:** Lunch at **Shigetsu** (Tenryū-ji’s shojin-ryori temple cuisine) --- ### **📸 Best Solo Photo Ops** ✅ **Stone Staircase** – Framed by crimson maples in autumn ✅ **Pagoda Viewpoint** – Overlooks all of Arashiyama (hidden behind main hall) ✅ **Moss-Covered Jizō Statues** – Ethereal morning light at 8am --- ### **💡 Insider Tips** ✔ **Wear non-slip shoes** – Stone paths get slippery with morning dew ✔ **Goshuin Alert** – The temple’s stamp features a rare **maple leaf design** ✔ **Combine with:** Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (quirky statue temple 30min walk away) --- ### **🍁 Nearby Solo Adventures** - **Bamboo Forest Path** – Go before 8am to avoid crowds - **Hozugawa River Cruise** – Scenic boat ride back to central Kyoto - **Randen Tram** – Nostalgic train to Kitano Tenmangū shrine --- ### **📌 Hashtag Wisdom** #hiddenkyoto #solojapantravel #mosstemple #arashiyamasecret #autumninjapan --- **🌸 Solo Moment to Steal:** "Sitting alone on Jōjakkō-ji’s wooden deck, watching sunlight slowly illuminate the moss—this is the Kyoto most tourists miss." *Which calls to you more—the fiery autumn leaves or the silent moss garden?* 🍁🌿 Comment below! **P.S.** Don’t miss the tiny **cave shrine** behind the pagoda—it feels like discovering a secret!