Arashiyama, Kyoto
Togetsukyo Bridge One hand on my hat as I hurried to the bridge in the evening
I was walking along the river when the autumn leaves beyond the bridge caught my eye and quickened my pace. Here’s what happened on that autumn evening when I hurried toward the bridge, one hand holding down my hat.
In the evening in late November, I headed to Togetsukyo Bridge to see Arashiyama’s autumn leaves. I hurried to get there, but once I reached the bridge, I wanted to stay and take in the view.
AutumnLate November, early evening
One hand on my hat as I hurried to the bridge in the evening
As I walked along the riverside path, evening light fell on the autumn leaves of Arashiyama beyond Togetsukyo Bridge. I’d come to see the leaves, but I wanted to take in the bridge, too. Maybe if I got a little closer, I could see the mountain reflected in the river more clearly. The thought made me pick up my pace.
I hurried along the riverside path toward the bridge. The wind nearly lifted my beret, so I held it down with one hand. I wanted to let my hat see the scenery, too, but it’d be a problem if it got there before I did. I slowed back to a walk and settled it on my head again. Then I laughed a little.
Up close, I could see just how low and long the bridge was. It didn’t rise up in front of the mountain; it simply stretched across the river. My gaze carried on to the autumn leaves beyond it. The view I remembered from the photos was right in front of me, now accompanied by the sound of the river. My heart felt full.
Standing there, I started to laugh at how I’d rushed over. I’d been eager to get here, but now I wanted to stay for a long while. I took my hand off my hat and slowly looked across the river, the bridge, and the mountains. I hadn’t noticed how wide the view was when I was trying to photograph the bridge alone.
There’s a story that the bridge was named Togetsukyo because the moon seemed to be crossing it. I came to see the mountains in the evening light, but now I’m curious about the bridge at night, too. If I came at another time, I wonder what I’d notice then. For now, I wanted to keep looking at the autumn leaves in front of me.
On the way back, I walked the same route instead of hurrying. I looked back along the way, and the mountains were still visible beyond the bridge. Maybe I’ll start by telling my friend about the part where I hurried over with one hand on my hat. I think she’ll understand when I show her the photos.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Regional specialties
Sakura mochi at Honke Sakura Mochi Kotokiki Chaya
Honke Sakura Mochi Kotokiki Chaya is on the west corner at the north end of Togetsukyo Bridge. It offers two kinds of sakura mochi: one made from white domyoji rice cake with no filling, sandwiched between salted cherry leaves, and another wrapped in smooth red bean paste. After admiring the autumn leaves, I’d want to stop and try both. Even deciding which to taste first sounds fun.
Highlights
A bridge that blends with the river and Arashiyama
Togetsukyo Bridge crosses the Oi River, where the mountains of Arashiyama are reflected in the water. The present bridge was completed in 1934 (Showa 9) and designed to blend into Arashiyama’s scenery. As I got closer, I wanted to take in the mountains behind the bridge, too.
The story behind Togetsukyo’s name
The story goes that Emperor Kameyama named the bridge Togetsukyo (“Moon-Crossing Bridge”) because it looked as if the moon were crossing it. I came to see the autumn leaves in the evening, but that story made me curious about the bridge by moonlight, too. It gave me another way to imagine the view.
Getting there and enjoying the route
From Arashiyama Station to Togetsukyo Bridge
- From Hankyu Arashiyama Station
- 5-minute walk
- Other train and bus connections
- Randen Arashiyama Station / City bus stops: Arashiyama, Arashiyama Park
It’s a 5-minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line. Official directions also cover Arashiyama Station on the Randen Arashiyama Main Line and the city bus stops “Arashiyama” and “Arashiyama Park.” I loved approaching the bridge along the river and taking in the mountains in their autumn colors.
Togetsukyo Bridge is in Arashiyama, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Open it on the map below, then take a look at the route from the station. I wanted to leave time to take in the view once I arrived, too.
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