Ryoanji

Ryoanji Temple's garden is a pond and stream garden where you can enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, the greenery is lush in summer, autumn leaves are beautiful in fall, and winter brings a snowy landscape. In particular, the "Stone Garden," a karesansui garden using sand and stones, expresses the world of Zen and exudes a quiet atmosphere. The garden features rocks of various sizes, moss, and plants arranged to create a beautiful landscape.

At Ryoanji Temple, there is a national treasure designated as "Hojo". Hojo is a building constructed during the Kamakura period, with tea rooms, sitting rooms, and gardens. In addition, inside Hojo, there are also buildings such as "Unryuin" and "Bell Tower" built in the shoin-zukuri style. Inside Hojo, you can feel the history and culture of Japan.

At Ryoanji Temple, there are experience programs such as zazen meditation and shakyo (hand-copying sutras). By participating in these programs, you can deepen your knowledge of the culture and history of Ryoanji Temple. You can also learn about tea ceremony experiences and how to read sutras.

As Ryōan-ji Temple is a popular tourist spot, it can get crowded. Especially during the autumn foliage season, it can get very crowded, so it's recommended to visit early in the day. Additionally, there are nighttime illuminations, so depending on the time, it may be possible to avoid the crowds.

There are numerous other tourist spots around Ryoanji Temple. For example, Kinkakuji Temple and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine are nearby and can be visited together. In addition, there are many restaurants and souvenir shops in the area, so you can enjoy yourself all day long.