The "Hidden Gems of Kyoto" is a project that brings you new sightseeing information on hidden attractions in the local areas just outside the city center.

Keihoku is a village rich in nature located northwest of the center of Kyoto. The area flourished as a trading center for stone tools, ironware and jade from the pre-Christian time. Later, it played an important role as a supply center for goods and food as a territory directly controlled by the emperor. Today, Keihoku is known for farmhouse stays, camping, and athletic facilities that take advantage of the abundant agricultural and forestry resources.

<Access to Keihoku>
Take the JR Bus bound for Shuzan from Kyoto or Nijo Station (about 90 min). The JR Bus Ticket Center at Kyoto Station sells special ticket which covers routes from/to the Shuzan area.

From the Heian period to the Edo period, when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, Keihoku was under the direct control of the emperor. The area supplied abundant forest resources and specialty products such as ayu (sweetfish) and matsutake (mushroom) to the imperial court. Joshoko-ji Temple, a Zen temple founded by Emperor Kogon (1313 - 1364), has a strong connection with the imperial family. The temple is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. One of the cherry trees is said to have been planted by Emperor Kogon.

Guesthouses owned by farmers allow visitors to experience the traditional lifestyle of Keihoku. Each farmhouse offers a variety of experiences: lodging in a thatched-roof house built several hundred years ago, meals cooked over a charcoal fire in a hearth, harvesting vegetables, pounding rice cakes, making local dishes, and walking tours. *Advance reservations are required for lodging.

Keihoku is the town of where forestry flourish. There are many programs that incorporate forest resources, such as woodworking using local wood, essential oil experience, lumberjack experience, heavy machinery operation, and trekking tours in cedar forests. *Advance reservations are required for these experiences.

Ayu (sweetfish) is a representative summer delicacy of Keihoku. The fishing season is short, from mid-June to September. Ayu caught in Keihoku were so special that they used to be delivered live to the imperial court in Kyoto. The recommended way to enjoy ayu is to grill the whole fish only with salt. It is available at Japanese-style inns and Japanese restaurants in Keihoku.