Wender·Vista
Arashiyama
shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileJapan
in the western hills of Kyoto, along the Hozu river

Arashiyama

— — the bamboo, the bridge, the long afternoon.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.
— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand
— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines
— Beside the kettle, a 12-inch propped
— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall
— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround
— a note from the studio

“A district at the western edge of Kyoto where the Hozu river leaves the mountains and the city begins. The Togetsukyō bridge crosses there, named for the moon that seems to walk across it in autumn. Above it sits Tenryū-ji, a Zen monastery founded in 1339 with one of the oldest gardens of its kind in Japan. The bamboo path is shorter than people expect. The hills change colour twice a year and the river does most of the talking.

from the studio
Arashiyama
— bring it home

Arashiyama, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?
One tile — square or rectangle.
How big?
the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand
6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb
Surface finish
A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.
How it sits
A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.
$58
Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.
— size
6 × 6 in
15 cm
— weighs
1.6 lb
solid in the hand
— surface
ceramic, hand-finished
art rests beneath a thin glossy finish
— from
Knoxville, TN
our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies
— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Arashiyama

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.
— the place

Arashiyama is a district at the western edge of Kyoto, in Ukyō ward, where the Hozu river emerges from a steep gorge and becomes the Katsura. The Togetsukyō, or Moon-Crossing Bridge, has crossed the river here in some form since the ninth century; the current concrete structure dates to 1934. The district has been a scenic retreat for Kyoto's nobility since the Heian period, and the name Arashiyama refers both to the area and to the 382-metre mountain on the south bank.

— informed by Wikipedia — Arashiyama
— the year

Two seasons own Arashiyama. Late March into early April brings the cherry blossom, with the slopes of Mount Arashiyama turning pale pink and the riverbank crowded into the evening. Late November into early December brings the momiji, when the maples around Tenryū-ji and along the river burn orange and red. Between them, the rainy season of June and the still-green humidity of August keep the district quieter, which many regulars consider its better face.

— the visit

Tenryū-ji, on the north bank, was founded by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji in 1339 for the Zen master Musō Soseki, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Its pond garden, Sōgenchi, is considered the oldest surviving example of its kind in Japan. The bamboo grove path runs from the temple's north gate up to the Ōkōchi Sansō villa. The Sagano Scenic Railway runs a short historic line along the Hozu gorge from Torokko Saga Station.

— where
Japan · Ukyō-ku, Kyoto
— position
35.0094° N · 135.6669° E
— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.
at the lake
Tenryū-ji
Zen monastery
at the lake
Togetsukyō Bridge
river bridge
1 km NW
Ōkōchi Sansō
garden villa
8 km NE
Kinkaku-ji
Zen temple
N
Arashiyama
Tenryū-ji
Togetsukyō Bridge
Ōkōchi Sansō
Kinkaku-ji
— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Arashiyama — and about bringing the piece home.
— about the place

Arashiyama is a district at the western edge of Kyoto, Japan, in Ukyō ward. It lies along the Hozu river where it emerges from the mountains, about a 25-minute train ride from central Kyoto.

Togetsukyō, the Moon-Crossing Bridge, crosses the Hozu river at the centre of Arashiyama. The current concrete bridge dates to 1934, but a bridge has stood at this site in various forms since the ninth century.

Tenryū-ji is a Zen Buddhist monastery in Arashiyama, founded by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji in 1339. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Sōgenchi pond garden, considered the oldest surviving Zen garden in Japan.

The famous bamboo path runs roughly 400 metres from the north gate of Tenryū-ji up to the entrance of the Ōkōchi Sansō villa. It is shorter than many visitors expect and best walked very early in the morning.

Late March to early April for the cherry blossom, and late November to early December for the maple foliage. Both windows are crowded; early morning and weekday visits are noticeably quieter.

Mount Arashiyama rises to 382 metres above the river on the south bank. Its name, meaning 'storm mountain,' is the source of the district's name and refers to the weather that comes off it in summer.

— about the piece in your home

Yes. Arashiyama is one of the most loved corners of Kyoto, associated with seasonal walks and Zen temple visits. A Small or Medium with a handwritten studio note carries the feeling without overstating it.

The piece sits well in Japandi, minimalist Asian, and warm-modern interiors. The bamboo greens and river greys read as quiet against pale walls, raw oak, and unbleached linen.

Yes. Japandi leans on one strong nature anchor against soft neutrals, and a bamboo-and-bridge image from Arashiyama is one of the most honest forms of that anchor without becoming a poster.

Above a standard sofa, a single Large reads cleanly. Above a longer console or for a feature wall, a four-tile Mural opens the image up. A nine-tile Mural is the full installation.

Yes, in the Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both are scratch-resistant and shower-safe. The Glossy finish is best kept for framed wall pieces away from steam.

A microfibre cloth with water is enough. No abrasives, no alcohol, no ammonia. The colour lives inside the ceramic surface, so it does not lift with cleaning.

Yes. Every WenderVista piece is original to the studio. There is no licensing, no stock imagery, and no third-party artist. Reid Wender curates the atlas and the studio finishes each tile in-house.

— if this one stayed with you

A few you might also love.

Hand-picked by the eye that found Sorapis. Same air, same kind of quiet.