Still an untapped area for sightseeing in Kyoto! 4 Nagaokakyo Area Holey Spots

Do you know what kind of town Nagaokakyo City is in Kyoto Prefecture?
Nagaokakyo City is easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka and is said to have many hidden charms.

Therefore, in this issue.
What is Nagaokakyo City like?
Recommended sightseeing spots in Nagaokakyo City
We would like to present information such as

Table of Contents

■Features of Nagaokakyo City! What kind of place?

■Nagaokakyo City has various attractions.

■Nagaokakyo's recommended sightseeing spots

■ Summary

■Features of Nagaokakyo City! What kind of place?

Nagaokakyo City in Kyoto Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of Kyoto and is easily accessible by the JR Kyoto Line and Hankyu Kyoto Line, 10 minutes from Kyoto and 30 minutes from the Umeda area of Osaka.
The Oyamazaki IC is also nearby, making it easy to get there by car.

It is a well-balanced city with some prosperous places and many places surrounded by nature. Nagaokakyo has a population of about 80,000 and an area of about 19.7㎢.
Not only is it famous for its autumn leaves and cherry blossoms, but also for its rape blossoms and bamboo shoots, making it a great place to enjoy gourmet food.

■Nagaokakyo City has various attractions.

Nagaokakyo City in Kyoto Prefecture has many attractions, as it was once the site of the capital.
Here, we will provide a summary of the attractions of Nagaokakyo City.

○Bamboo shoots are excellent!

Nagaokakyo City is famous for bamboo shoots.
Their characteristic feature is the whiteness of their color. Bamboo shoots, which have been laboriously cultivated for a year, come into season around April.
There are also numerous kaiseki restaurants and other places where you can enjoy bamboo shoot dishes.

○History, including a place associated with Mitsuhide Akechi.

Nagaokakyo City has a rich history.
Nagaoka-kyo Capital was opened by Emperor Kanmu in 784.
It is also famous as the site where Mitsuhide Akechi fought in the "Battle of Yamazaki and Katsuryuji Castle."

Gourmet food is also available!

Hana-nai, a specialty of Nagaokakyo City, can be transformed into any dish. Pickles and pasta are popular, and it is a familiar vegetable to many locals.
And you may even find unique sweets such as bamboo shoot pudding and jam made from bamboo shoots.

○ Many well-known companies are located in the area.

Nagaokakyo City is also known for its many major companies.
Suntory's brewery, famous especially for The Premium Malts, is located in Nagaokakyo City,
Cutting-edge science and technology has also developed from this city, including Murata Manufacturing, which holds the world's top share in electronic components.

Recommended as a tourist attraction.

Nagaokakyo City has several tourist attractions with natural beauty.
Among them, Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine is particularly recommended.
I will introduce in detail the recommended tourist attractions in the next section.

■Nagaokakyo's recommended sightseeing spots

1. Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine

Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine, affectionately called "Tenjin-san" by the locals, is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning.
The main attraction is the cluster of Kirishima azaleas, which are designated as a natural monument by Nagaokakyo City. The trees are approximately 170 years old and grow to a height of 2.5 meters, and bloom from mid-April.
Other highlights include a view of the vast Hachijogaike Pond, created in 1638 by Prince Chichu of Hachijo Palace, as well as plum blossoms and cherry blossoms in bloom.

Facility Name:Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine
Address: 2-15-13 Tenjin, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto
Access: about 10 minutes walk from JR Nagaokakyo Station

HP:https://nagaokatenmangu.or.jp/

2. Otokuni-ji Temple

The temple was founded by Prince Shotoku at the order of Emperor Suiko, and is considered the oldest temple in the Otokuni-area.
It was enlarged by Emperor Kanmu in Enryaku 3.
Although it was devastated by the Onin War, it was rebuilt again and is in its present form.
In addition to the standing statue of Bishamonten, designated as a national important cultural property, Otokuni-ji Temple is also famous for its peonies, about 2,000 large-flowered plants of about 30 varieties. The peonies are stunningly beautiful, with many bright colors such as red and pink.
There is also a legend that Kukai presented Emperor Saga with Chinese poetry on the mandarin oranges that had become Otokuni-ji Temple, and there are still mandarin trees on the temple grounds today.

Facility Name:Otokunji temple (in Kyoto)
Address: 3-14-7 Imazato, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto
Access: about 5 minutes walk from Hankyu Bus Yakushido

HP:https://otokunidera.jimdosite.com/

3. Koumyouji Temple

Komyoji Temple, the head temple of the Nishiyama Jodo Sect, is located in Awasanishijonouchi, Nagaokakyo City. The temple boasts an overwhelmingly large area of 32 buildings on a site of approximately 20,000 tsubo (approximately 1.5 acres), and is famous for its plum blossoms and weeping cherry trees in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall.
There are also tea ceremonies held for the public in the tearooms, where you can enjoy a cup of tea while enjoying the scenery.

Facility Name:Komyoji Temple
Address: 26-1, Awu Nishijonouchi, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto, Japan
Access: 20 minutes walk from Hankyu Nagaoka Tenjin Station, about 15 minutes walk

HP:http://www.komyo-ji.or.jp/

4. Kokura Sanso Chikubusato

If you like sweets and sweet treats, stop by Kokura Sanso Takefu no Sato.
Ogura-Sanso is a long-established company known for its rice crackers such as okaki and rice crackers, which are famous not only in Kyoto Prefecture but also throughout Japan.
They sell rice crackers and other products themed on the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, and they grow their own rice on their own farm.
Its main restaurant is "Ogura Sanso Chikubuso. It is located about 10 minutes by car from Nagaoka Tenjin Station, and is also very close to the aforementioned Komyoji Temple.
The premises cover an area of about 800 tsubo (about 1,860 square meters), and as you enter the restaurant, you can see a Japanese garden decorated with the natural beauty of the four seasons.
The store offers a variety of sweets from classic okaki to chocolate sweets, and there is also a café space where you can relax and enjoy Kyoto sweets while gazing at the garden.

Facility Name:Kokura Villa Chikubusato
Address: 45, Imazato Hasuketo, Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, Japan
Access: about 15 minutes walk from Hankyu Nagaoka Tenjin Station

HP:https://ogurasansou.jp.net/store_type/head/

■ Summary

In this issue, we have introduced some recommended sightseeing spots such as gourmet restaurants and temples in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Nagaokakyo City has many attractions, so please visit.