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Okochi Sanso Garden

Garden

Part of Arashiyama

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Garden

5.0

1 review

¥1,000

Entry Fee

Train Access Cafe

About This Destination

The former villa garden of silent film actor Okochi Denjiro, perched on a hillside above the bamboo grove. Beautifully manicured strolling gardens offer sweeping views of Mount Hiei and the Hozu River valley. Entry includes matcha and a sweet.

Okochi Sanso is the former villa and garden of Okochi Denjiro (大河内傳次郎, 1898-1962), one of the most celebrated actors of Japanese silent cinema, known for his samurai roles. He spent 30 years and his entire fortune creating this exquisite strolling garden on the hillside above the famous Arashiyama bamboo grove. The garden spans 20,000 square meters with views of Mount Hiei, the Hozu River valley, and on clear days, distant Kyoto cityscape. Several traditional buildings dot the grounds, including tea houses and the actor's former residence. The admission fee includes matcha tea and a traditional sweet served in a tea house overlooking the garden. The villa is located at the northern end of the bamboo grove path, making it an ideal destination after walking through the bamboo forest.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Saga-Arashiyama Station

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Okochi Sanso Garden?

Okochi Sanso sits at the northern exit of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, about a 15-minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station via the bamboo grove path. From Keifuku Randen Arashiyama Station it's about 20 minutes via Tenryu-ji and the bamboo grove. The garden is the natural end-point of the bamboo walk, and many visitors combine the two.

What's included in the 1,000 yen ticket?

Adult admission is 1,000 yen and includes the full hilltop strolling garden, the actor's former residence, several tea houses and viewpoint pavilions, a small museum about Okochi Denjiro's career, AND a serving of matcha tea with a Japanese sweet at the on-site tea house. Children 500 yen. The matcha and sweet alone justify a large part of the ticket price; the experience feels generous compared with most paid temple gardens.

When is the best time to visit Okochi Sanso?

Mid-November for autumn foliage with the maples framing distant Mount Hiei, and early April for cherry blossoms with the Hozu River valley below. Spring and autumn afternoons give the best light for the western viewpoint. The garden is also magical in summer for the deep greens and cooler hilltop air. Mornings just after the 9 AM opening are quietest. Allow 60–90 minutes including the matcha break.

Who was Okochi Denjiro?

Okochi Denjiro (1898–1962) was one of Japan's biggest silent-film and early talkie stars, particularly famous for samurai roles in jidaigeki films like 'Tange Sazen.' At his peak in the 1920s–1930s he was paid the highest salary of any Japanese actor. He spent 30 years and most of his fortune building this garden as a place of contemplation, intending it to be his masterpiece beyond film. The on-site museum displays film clips, posters, and props from his career.

Nearby Destinations

🛕

Jojakko-ji 185m

⛩️

Nonomiya Shrine 241m

🎯

Sagano Bamboo Grove 257m

🎯

Sagano Scenic Railway 465m

🛕

Tenryu-ji 530m

🛕

Gio-ji 546m

🌸 Other Garden in Kyoto

Katsura Imperial Villa Shugakuin Imperial Villa

⭐ Reviews

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Sampo 2 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A great place to enjoy a cup of tea and views in Arashiyama

You get a cup of matcha tea when you enter this place, so really not too steep of a price of entry when you take that into account. And you get a postcard! Since it costs a bit to enter, the crowds of the bamboo grove will not come to this pla... Read more