Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a particularly scenic area to visit, especially if the weather is good. It's located just outside of Kyoto and is accessible by the Keifuku Tram, or the Hankyu and JR railways. In addition to Monkey Mountain, it is home to the Hozugawa boat ride and a good deal of walks and temples. It is at its busiest during Hanami and Autumn, when the streets are crawling with sightseers. During these seasons, the trees on the mountains flanking the Hozu River are lit up with bright splashes of colour.
At any point, Arashiyama can give visitors a welcome break from the city. If you have time and the money (tickets cost 3900 yen for an adult) the Hozugawa boat ride is recommended. For an hour and a half, the boat drifts downstream, past oddly shaped rocks and high tree-lined mountains..
This page has several photographs of the ride - different seasons bring different backdrops. Power is provided by three men -one rowing, one steering and one pushing the craft along like a Venetian gondola. They switch places during the ride, running a precarious gauntlet down the side of the boats. If you understand Japanese, the ride will be more enjoyable, as the men propelling the boat supply passengers with interesting facts about the local area. The nearest station is JR Kameoka and it's a ten minute walk from there. However, if you want to overdose on scenery, a ride through the mountains on the Torokko Train is very pleasant. After that, a short bus ride will get you to Hozugawa Kudari.
If you want a slightly more sedate maritime experience, it is possible to take a rowing boat out onto the river. At about 1400 yen for an hour, it's not that cheap but on a sunny afternoon it feels like a good, old fashioned way to watch the world go by. Stations can be found on both banks of the river, upstream from the main bridge. Once you get to grips with the basic handling of the boat, it's pretty easy to make it go where you want.
Tenryuji and Arashiyama Park, neither of which are far from the main stations are enjoyable places to take a stroll. There are also a number of shops and restaurants on both sides of the central bridge. Arashiyama is well covered in guide books to the city, but it is perhaps more rewarding to discover it for yourself, either by bicycle or on foot. If you happen to have a bike and it's a nice day, cycling along the river from Gojo up to Arashiyama is a pleasant ride. Arashiyama is also a nice place for a BBQ, if you have the time, equipment and will.
There's also a cycling path that goes for about 45km, apparently it's not that difficult. You can find details of it in the forums