Latest news with #CentralJapanRailwayCompany
Tokyo Weekender
20 hours ago
- Tokyo Weekender
A New ‘Moss Passport' Will Take You to Kyoto's Hidden Moss Temples
Moss fans, rejoice! JR Tokai, or the Central Japan Railway Company, has launched a limited-time 'Kyoto Moss Tour Passport,' which will grant visitors discounted access to six of the city's most gloriously moss-surrounded temples. The offer is part of the company's seasonal 'Souda Kyoto, Ikou' (Let's Go To Kyoto!) campaign. Essentially, it's a two-day pass that will allow you to enter six serene, mossy spaces for just ¥1,000, which is less than half of what the combined entry fee would cost otherwise. List of Contents: Six Stops, One Peaceful Route Getting the Moss Tour Passport Related Posts Gioji Temple Six Stops, One Peaceful Route Midsummer is typically peak season for Kyoto's moss gardens; the warm, wet climate at this time brings out their full texture and vibrancy. Early morning or late afternoon visits are particularly ideal, not just for better light and cooler temperatures, but also for a quieter, more reflective atmosphere. Each of the six participating temples offers a unique take on Kyoto's natural charm. Two are located in Arashiyama: Gioji Temple , located in the Sagano area, is a compact temple enveloped in maple trees and, of course, thick moss — perfect for a peaceful break after strolling the nearby bamboo grove. Jojakkoji Temple (official website in Japanese only) offers sweeping views, along with stone steps and gardens that seem to hum with stillness in the summer heat. Sanzenin Temple In the rural Ohara district, three temples in the northeast — Sanzen-in , Shorin-in (Japanese only) and Enkoji Temple — create a countryside temple trail that feels far removed from the bustle of central Kyoto. Sanzen-in stands out for its smiling Jizo statues nestled among the moss, while Shorinin is known for the sprawling moss lawns surrounding its pagoda. Enkoji Temple is especially known for its strolling pond garden. This carefully designed landscape is best viewed from the main hall, where the garden appears like a 'living picture' or 'framed scene' — a composition of moss, trees and stones that changes subtly with the seasons. Tofukuji Temple Last but not least, Tofukuji , located in the southeastern part of Kyoto, is known for its impressive Zen architecture and carefully maintained moss gardens. One of its standout features is the Hojo (main garden), designed by Mirei Shigemori in the 1930s, where moss plays a central role — especially in the northern garden, where square patches of moss alternate with stone in a striking checkerboard pattern. How To Get the Moss Tour Passport The Kyoto Moss Tour Passport can be purchased at the JR Tokai Tours on the first floor inside Kyoto Station. It's also available online through the official JR Tokai website , but do note that the website is only in Japanese. The pass is valid for two consecutive days and can be used for one-time entry at each of the six participating temples. When you buy the passport, you'll receive a fold-out guide in Japanese with information on each temple, including access details and different types of moss to look out for. While the booklet is currently only in Japanese, it's easy to navigate with maps, pictures and clear temple names. If you're planning to visit Kyoto in the summer months, this pass is one of the easiest ways to explore the city's quieter, greener side. Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts The Most Beautiful Japanese Gardens Beyond Kyoto Alternative, Less Crowded Temples and Shrines in Kyoto 6 Temples in Kyoto and Nara Famous for Their Seasonal Flowers
SoraNews24
6 days ago
- SoraNews24
Getting off the beaten Kyoto temple path and onto a mossy one with the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport
New pass gets you access to six beautiful moss temples that aren't that Moss Temple. Kyoto's Saihoji Temple is often called Kokedera, or 'Moss Temple,' because of the vegetation that grows in abundance in its garden. However, Kyoto has more than one temple with moss-covered grounds, and unlike Saihoji, they don't require advance reservations that quickly fill up, nor do they require you to copy sutras when visiting. To highlight these often-overlooked alternative moss temples. Central Japan Railway Company/JR Tokai has created a new pass that covers admission to six different Kyoto temples for only 1,000 yen (US$6.90). The two-day pass, called the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport, went on sale at the start of the summer, and we recently were invited to a press tour for it, during which we visited Jojakkoji Temple. Located in the Arashiyama district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Jojakkoji is about a 20-minute walk from Saga Arashiyama Station. Compared to some of the city's other temples, it's not particularly old, but you can probably guess that relatively young in Kyoto is still plenty old enough to have historical significance, and Jojakkoji was founded in 1596. Likewise, one of the newest buildings on the ground, Jojakkoji's pagoda, was constructed in the 17th century, and is a designated Important Cultural Property. But what really took our breath away was the moss. With slightly overcast skies, the shades of green seemed to take on an added depth, creating a soothing and calming atmosphere as we strolled along the stone path. During our visit, we had a chance to chat with the temple's head priest, Noriaki Nagao, whose enthusiasm for botany felt almost as strong as Buddhism. Nagao explained how rather than trim the garden's shrubbery to perfectly rounded spheres, he prefers to leave some irregularities to the length of their branches when pruning, to help give the greenery a more natural look. He also showed us his favorite type of moss that grows at the temple, a type of Leucobryum called shiragakoke in Japanese… …and as were passing by the pond situated next to Jojakkoji's main hall and soaking in the sense of tranquility… …he pointed out the eggs that had been laid by a frog. ▼ Actually, he specifically indicated that these eggs were laid by 'a forest green tree frog,' proving that he's knowledgeable about both the plants and the animals whose home is within the temple grounds. Nagao's shiragakoke pick is an especially deep cut of moss fandom, as it's not even one of the six varieties showcased by JR within the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport. There's also a grove of maple trees on the grounds, originally of two different varieties but now including some hybrids of the two as well, which makes Jojakkoji worth a visit in the fall too, but the beautiful green space that the place is during the summer is also a wonderful place to spend time. ▼ And then we managed to snap a cool cat pic, which is always a plus. As mentioned above, Jojakkoji is just one of the six mossy temples to which admission is included in the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport, with the others being Gioji, Sanzenin, Shorinin, Enkoji, and Tofukuji. ▼ Gioji (祇王寺) and Jojakkoji (常寂光寺) are on the west side of Kyoto, Shorinin (勝林院), Sanzenin (三千院), and Enkoji (圓光寺) the northeast, and Tofukuji (東福寺) is southeast from Kyoto Station. With each of the temples charging around 500 yen individually for admission, the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport is a great way to save some cash while also getting a charming off-the-beaten path itinerary, and the Passport can be purchased online here through September 29. Temple information Jojakkoji / 常寂光寺 Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Ukyo-ku, Sagaogurayama Ogura-cho 3 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨小倉山小倉町3] Website Related: JR Central, Kyoto Moss Tour Passport Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Snake halts Japanese bullet trains after wrapping around power line
One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines came to a halt after a snake tangled itself in a power line, causing a power outage. Tokaido Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended from around 17:25 local time on Wednesday. Services resumed at around 19:00 local time, operator Central Japan Railway Company said, according to local media. Japan is currently in one of its busiest holiday seasons, Golden Week, which consists of four national holidays in seven days, and will see trains, airports and holiday hotspots hit their peak. Osaka is also hosting the World Expo this year, which will see millions of foreign and domestic visitors flock to the city until it ends in October. The snake entanglement occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, which suspended Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo News. While authorities worked to get power restored, passengers reportedly gathered around staff at one station while large queues formed at ticket machines. One frequent shinkansen traveller, who was returning to Tokyo, said it was the first time he had experienced this. "I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," Satoshi Tagawa, 46, told Kyodo News. But 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, said he was "fed up with the troubles" to services. "I want them to run on time," he added. This is not the first time a snake has brought the shinkansen service to a halt. In April 2024, there was a 17-minute hold-up while authorities removed a 16 inch (40.6cm) snake from the train between Nagoya and Tokyo, according to CBS News, BBC News's US partner. Snake on a train shocks passengers Corn snake found by commuter near train station
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Snake halts Japanese bullet trains after wrapping around power line
One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines came to a halt after a snake tangled itself in a power line, causing a power outage. Tokaido Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended from around 17:25 local time on Wednesday. Services resumed at around 19:00 local time, operator Central Japan Railway Company said, according to local media. Japan is currently in one of its busiest holiday seasons, Golden Week, which consists of four national holidays in seven days, and will see trains, airports and holiday hotspots hit their peak. Osaka is also hosting the World Expo this year, which will see millions of foreign and domestic visitors flock to the city until it ends in October. The snake entanglement occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, which suspended Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo News. While authorities worked to get power restored, passengers reportedly gathered around staff at one station while large queues formed at ticket machines. One frequent shinkansen traveller, who was returning to Tokyo, said it was the first time he had experienced this. "I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," Satoshi Tagawa, 46, told Kyodo News. But 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, said he was "fed up with the troubles" to services. "I want them to run on time," he added. This is not the first time a snake has brought the shinkansen service to a halt. In April 2024, there was a 17-minute hold-up while authorities removed a 16 inch (40.6cm) snake from the train between Nagoya and Tokyo, according to CBS News, BBC News's US partner. Snake on a train shocks passengers Corn snake found by commuter near train station
BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
Snake halts Japanese bullet trains after wrapping around power line
One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines came to a halt after a snake tangled itself in a power line, causing a power Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended from around 17:25 local time on resumed at around 19:00 local time, operator Central Japan Railway Company said, according to local is currently in one of its busiest holiday seasons, Golden Week, which consists of four national holidays in seven days, and will see trains, airports and holiday hotspots hit their peak. Osaka is also hosting the World Expo this year, which will see millions of foreign and domestic visitors flock to the city until it ends in snake entanglement occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, which suspended Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo authorities worked to get power restored, passengers reportedly gathered around staff at one station while large queues formed at ticket frequent shinkansen traveller, who was returning to Tokyo, said it was the first time he had experienced this."I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," Satoshi Tagawa, 46, told Kyodo 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, said he was "fed up with the troubles" to services."I want them to run on time," he is not the first time a snake has brought the shinkansen service to a April 2024, there was a 17-minute hold-up while authorities removed a 16 inch (40.6cm) snake from the train between Nagoya and Tokyo, according to CBS News, BBC News's US partner.
