Okochi Denjiro (大河内 傳次郎) was a very famous and wealthy actor of the silent movie era. Okochi built his estate until his death in 1962. Being a big admirer of the Zen philosophy, the grounds of his villa include many elements like tea room, small gardens and perfectly positioned brushes and stones.
The villa is now open to the public and, being located on a mountain side, offers nice views of Kyoto and the Arashiyama district. To appreciate the view it is best to go on a clear day with good visibility, which in Japan means winter. The gardens, however, are best visited in autumn or early summer, like most place in Kyoto.
The entrance of the villa is not easy to find for first-time Kyoto visitors. It is located at the end of the bamboo alley, where the road forms a T junction. Recommended for: Access: 1000 円 Nearby: Senkō-ji 千光寺 (220m), the Bamboo alley 嵯峨竹林 (250m), Shōkaku-ji 正覚寺 (270m), Furoan フロアン (270m), the Yusa-tei 祐斎亭 (320m), Jōjakkō-ji 常寂光寺 (320m), the Rakushisha 落柿舎 (420m), Nonomiya-jinja 野宮神社 (440m), Hōgon-in 宝厳院 (460m), Tenryū-ji 天龍寺 (470m),... External links: ウィキペディア, Wikipedia, Kyoto Navi, Trip Advisor, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Inside Kyoto, Marutake, そうだ京都, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, arashiyama, 嵐山, 大河内山荘, Okochi Sanso, villa Statistics: visited on 9 occasions, id 274, 28 photos (79 extra photos can be found in the archive). |