About Ryoanji(Temple)

Ryoan-ji Temple is a temple of the Myoshin-ji School of Rinzai Sect, located in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, and is particularly famous for its dry landscape garden, founded in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto.

The most distinctive feature of Ryoan-ji Temple is its dry landscape garden. Although the garden is simple, consisting only of white sand and stones, its beauty and deep symbolism greatly impresses visitors. The garden has 15 stones arranged in such a way that one stone is always hidden no matter what angle you look at it from, and it is said that there is a "Zen teaching hidden in the arrangement of the stones". Visitors can take time to reflect on their own minds while gazing at the garden.

Ryoan-ji also has a large pond called Kyoyouchi Pond. This pond reflects the beauty of nature in each of the four seasons, and is especially crowded with tourists during the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn foliage season in fall. By strolling around the pond, visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature and tranquility at the same time.

Furthermore, the charm of Ryoan-ji lies in its serene atmosphere. Even during the tourist season, it is relatively quiet and relaxing. Visitors can forget the hustle and bustle and feel peace of mind while gazing at the garden and pond.

The temple also has a "stone garden" called Shoin, from which you can view the garden. Inside the shoin, visitors can also enjoy traditional Japanese art, such as paintings on fusuma (sliding doors) from the Edo period.

Around Ryoan-ji Temple, there are many famous places such as Kinkaku-ji Temple and Ninna-ji Temple, where you can deeply feel the history and culture of Kyoto. Visiting these spots together will enhance your sightseeing in Kyoto.

Ryoan-ji Temple is a sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the beauty and deep symbolism of its dry landscape garden, its serene atmosphere, and its abundant nature. When visiting Kyoto, be sure to visit Ryoan-ji Temple and enjoy all that it has to offer.