Recommended Date Courses Starting from Rental Kimono Okamoto Arashiyama Store

If you’re not sure where to go, try narrowing it down to about two areas—it makes planning much easier.
This time, we’re introducing two popular courses easily accessible from Rental Kimono Okamoto Arashiyama Store!!
One is a one-day course to Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama, and the other is a relaxing Kyoto Station area course featuring the Kyoto Aquarium and To-ji Temple♪

Rental Kimono Okamoto Arashiyama Store
(Nearest stations: Randen Arashiyama Main Line Arashiyama Station / JR Saga-Arashiyama Station)
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　Kimono Rental
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Stroll around Arashiyama, enjoy lunch and a café break
Saga-Arashiyama Station
　　　⇓　　　　　🚉 Train (about 30 minutes)
Inari Station
　　　⇓
Fushimi Inari Taisha (Main Shrine → Senbon Torii → Oku-no-in Worship Hall) About 1 hour
Inari Station
　　　⇓　　　　　🚉 Train (about 30 minutes)
Saga-Arashiyama Station

Recommended Route in Arashiyama
Walk through the Bamboo Grove
Pray for good relationships at Nonomiya Shrine, linked to The Tale of Genji
Try delicious local foods
Admire the gardens at Tenryu-ji Temple
Take photos at the Kimono Forest
Cross Togetsukyo Bridge
Take a break at a café or sweets shop

The path through the bamboo grove, lined with tens of thousands of green stalks, is refreshing even in summer, with dappled sunlight and the sound of rustling leaves in the wind.
Since the path is slightly sloped, strolling as far as Nonomiya Shrine may be just right.
If you want to go further, a rickshaw ride is recommended. With the comfort of a rickshaw and the driver’s guidance, you’re sure to have a fun time—and they’ll take wonderful photos of the two of you, creating unforgettable memories.
Nonomiya Shrine appears in the “Sakaki” chapter of The Tale of Genji and is popular among women as a shrine for good relationships.
It is said that stroking the sacred stone in the shrine grounds will grant your wishes. Pray together for your bond to last forever!
Nonomiya Shrine: Open year-round, free admission
Deities: good relationships, fertility, learning
Website: http://nonomiya.com

Arashiyama is full of popular restaurants, but they are scattered over a wide area, so be sure to check the location of the places you want to visit in advance.
If you want to try famous restaurants serving rice bowls, tofu dishes, or soba with beautiful views, it’s best to make a reservation ahead of time, or arrive right at opening if the place doesn’t take reservations.
During peak season, you might even wait an hour!
If you prefer a more spontaneous trip without reservations, food stalls are perfect. Enjoy small bites of various treats—croquettes, fish cakes, taiyaki, sweet potato desserts, character-themed bread, fu dengaku, and more. Cute and delicious discoveries await♪

World Heritage Site (Recommended season: year-round)
Website: http://www.tenryuji.com/
Hours: 8:30–17:00
Admission: Garden ¥500, Additional buildings +¥300
Founded by Ashikaga Takauji to pray for Emperor Go-Daigo’s soul, Tenryu-ji features a borrowed landscape garden that incorporates the Arashiyama scenery.
Don’t miss the “Dragon Gazing in All Directions” painting inside the Dharma Hall.
Relax and take in the beauty of this renowned garden.

Located at Randen Arashiyama Station, the Kimono Forest is a popular photo spot on social media.
This colorful installation of pillars decorated with Kyo-Yuzen fabric creates a forest-like atmosphere.
Peek out playfully and capture some cute couple photos!
While the evening illumination is beautiful, photos in kimono look best during daylight hours.
Inside the forest is the “Pond of the Dragon of Love,” believed to protect travelers on their journey.

Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge over the Oi River are stunning year-round—cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and vibrant red and yellow foliage in autumn.
Enjoy crossing while taking in the scenery.
For great photos, capture both the bridge and Arashiyama together from the downstream side before crossing.
In spring, the nearby Nakanoshima Park is a perfect spot to relax under cherry blossoms—there are about 5,000 trees in bloom!

Popular Café Spots

・Thatched-roof traditional house café: Pan to Espresso to Arashiyama Teien → http://bread-espresso.jp

・Café where you can grill dango over a charcoal stove: eX café Kyoto Arashiyama

・Coffee with views of Arashiyama and the Oi River: % ARABICA

・Famous sakura mochi at a long-established shop

・Renovated sento bathhouse café: Sagano-yu → http://sagano-yu.com

Hōgon-in Temple → http://www.hogonin.jp/index.html
(Best season: autumn foliage, only open during special viewing periods)

Suzumushi-dera (Myohoji Temple) → https://www.suzutera.or.jp/
(Year-round, known for the chirping of bell crickets, 15 min by bus from Arashiyama)

Kurumazaki Shrine → http://www.kurumazakijinja.or.jp/
(5 min by Randen from Arashiyama Station, associated with good fortune, performing arts, and good relationships)

Website: http://inari.jp/
Admission: Free
A must-visit once in a lifetime, this shrine is famous for its approximately 10,000 red torii gates lining the paths.
As the head shrine of about 30,000 Inari shrines nationwide, it attracts visitors from around the world.

Things to Do at Fushimi Inari Taisha

・Take photos while walking through the mystical torii tunnels
・Try lifting the “Omokaru Stone”
・Write a wish on a fox-shaped ema (votive plaque)

From the main gate, proceed to the main hall to pay your respects, then head into the Senbon Torii.

Photos of yourself in kimono with the red torii are especially stunning! Holding a fox mask makes for even more striking shots (available for rent at our Arashiyama store, free with SNS posting).

At the Oku-no-in Worship Hall, try the Omokaru Stone: if it feels lighter than expected, your wish will come true; heavier, and it may not.

Don’t forget to draw your own fox-faced ema with a unique expression and dedicate it.

(From here, the mountain course takes about 2 hours. It is considered a spiritual power spot, but maybe save it for next time.)

This leisurely course starts late in the morning. Perfect for couples who want to take it easy, enjoy just half a day, or locals looking for a different kind of date.

Route:

JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
⇓ (15 min)
Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station
⇓ (10 min walk)
Bus: Shichijo-Omiya/Kyoto Station Aquarium-mae
⇓ (3 min)
Bus: To-ji East Gate
⇓ (2 min walk)
To-ji Temple
After sightseeing at To-ji, head to Kyoto Aquarium ✨

Website: https://toji.or.jp/
Hours: 8:00–17:00
Built in the Heian period, To-ji’s five-story pagoda is Japan’s tallest wooden structure at about 55m.
The 21 Buddhist statues arranged in a three-dimensional mandala inside the lecture hall are breathtaking.
Many visitors say they became fascinated with Buddhist statues after visiting To-ji.
Cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage are especially beautiful.
On the 21st of each month, the famous Kobo Market is held, with food stalls and antiques for a fun date atmosphere.

Website: https://www.kyoto-aquarium.com/index.html
Admission: ¥2,200
Highlights include the massive main tank, dolphin shows, penguins, giant salamanders, garden eels, and mesmerizing jellyfish.
Special seasonal events such as jellyfish lamps, wind chimes, and light-ups are also popular.
Visiting in yukata or kimono makes for a special and memorable date.

Things to Do at Kyoto Aquarium

Marvel at the Jellyfish Wonder (largest jellyfish display in western Japan, with over 5,000 jellyfish illuminated magically)

Take silhouette photos in front of the giant tank

See the adorable and quirky giant salamander, Kyoto Aquarium’s mascot

Enjoy unique aquarium-themed treats at the café

Umekoji Park → https://www.kyoto-ga.jp/umekouji/facilities/
A spacious park with cherry blossoms, plums, and autumn leaves. Not too crowded, making it perfect for a relaxed stroll.

Tram Café (Shiden Café) inside Umekoji Park: A retro café in a train car, matching beautifully with kimono. Enjoy specialty soft serve ice cream and “hanging strap bread” from the mountain village of Miyama.

Closing
How was it?
We introduced both the classic Arashiyama & Fushimi Inari Taisha course, and the relaxed Umekoji area course loved by locals.
Enjoy a wonderful date in kimono! Depending on the season, we also offer yukata and light kimono.

Author:
Rental Kimono Okamoto Arashiyama Store
48-4 Sagatenryuji Kitatsukurimichi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8374
TEL: 075-950-0805
Website: www.okamoto-kimono.com
Instagram: @rentalkimonookamoto
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