Apr 21, 2013 - 1 min read

Okochi Sanso Arashiyama Kyoto

A period actor's country villa and gardens

By Jenny Cook

Community writer

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Okochi Sanso a beautiful manicured Japanese Garden in Arishiyama Kyoto (Photo: Iyu Cook)

Beautiful panoramic views of the mountains from Okochi Sanso a samurai actors country villa in Arishiyama Kyoto (Photo: Iyu Cook)

Beautiful panoramic views of the mountains from Okochi Sanso a samurai actors country villa in Arishiyama and Sagano Kyoto (Photo: Iyu Cook)

The beautiful patterns of nature (Photo: Iyu Cook)

A Dragonfly sunbathing in the luxuriant green foilage of the grounds of the Okochi Mountain Villa in Arishiyama Kyoto (Photo: Iyu Cook)

Beautiful Matcha Green Tea and sweets are complementary with your entry ticket to Okochi Sanso a samurai actors country villa in Arishiyama (Photo: Iyu Cook)

Denjiro Okochi loved the view from the top of Arishiyama, or "Storm Mountain" in Japanese. A period actor from the film "The Tale of Genji", he was part of the golden era of Japanese Film, in the ilk of Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa. He lived and breathed the ancient Japanese court ascetic, so he recreated it in a twenty thousand square Japanese garden with tea houses and shrines. Okochi Sanso is west of Trakko Arishiyama, where you can board the romantic train to Kameoka. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and the 1000 yen admission fee includes a bowl of freshly made matcha green tea and sweets.