When in Ohara, do opt for the walk through the village! The path starts right next to the bus station restrooms, crosses the river, and continues straight ahead. You'll pass rice fields (in summer), village houses, some shops and tea houses, and some nice views down the valley. And where the road ends, Jakkoin temple. it's a small gem of a place, complete with a dam with huge koi (carps). Approching the temple, you'll find an interesting assembly of small eateries offering very traditional Japanese food. This is apparently not a place on many visitors' itinerary, so this corner of Kyoto prefecture offers a lot of tranquility as well as a genuine rural feeling. Exiting the temple and turning to the right, you'll have the option for a longer hike through the forest and hills to several minor shrines, it all starting with a rather impressive, moss grown flight of stairs leading up into the forest.

Jakko-in temple is west of the bus station in Ohara. There are many temples and shrines in the Kyoto area that you can enter for free that are far bigger and more interesting. Jakko-in charges 600 yen to see its tiny grounds and buildings whereas Sanzen-in temple in Ohara charges 700 and they have huge buildings and grounds that are spectacular at every turn. Jakko-in takes 5 minutes to see but you could easily spend 2 hours at Sanzen-in.If you want to avoid feeling ripped-off skip Jakko-in. The walk there however is pretty as is the entire Ohara area which should not be missed.