Cherry blossom in full bloom in Arashiyama district,Kyoto.Togetsu-kyo Bridge in the back ground - Stockfoto

Togetsu-kyo Bridge across Oigawa River (or Katsura River)during cherry blossom season.Lovely pale pink cherry blossoms -Someiyoshino blooming in the foreground. Arashiyama is one of the most famous tourist spots for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves in Kyoto and has been famous as a scenic spot for since ancient times. The Togetsu-kyo Bridge across the Oi River (or Katsura River )that runs through the central part of Arashiyama is a symbol of Arashiyama, and many movies and TV dramas have been filmed around here. (This river is a single river, but it has several names. The river over Togetsu-kyo Bridge is called "Oi River ", upstream from here is "Hozu River",and downstream from the bridge is called "Katsura River".) It is said that the original bridge was built in 836 during the early Heian period when the priest Dosho,the ancestral founder of the Horin-ji temple conducted construction work along the Oi River. Therefore the initial bridge name was Horin-ji Bridge. The current name "Togetsu-Kyo " comes from the fact that the emperor Kameyama (period of reign:1259 - 1274)saw a full moon moving above the bridge when a boat party was held at this place and he metaphorically described that "It's like a clear moon is crossing the bridge." The current one was completed in 1934, and designed to take in the scenic beauty of Arashiyama.