![]() It is often ranked first among Kyoto’s five great Zen temples and is also registered as a world heritage site. Tenryuji is the most important temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district. Ryoanji, 13, Ryoanjigoryonoshitacho, Ukyo-Ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan 3. Engraved on the top of the basin is the zen phrase “ Ware tada taru o shiru” which means “I know only to be content,” an important element in Zen philosophy. Also known as tsukubai, this basin was used for washing hands before attending a tea ceremony. Walk beyond the moss garden to see a replica of a stone water basin. Symbolizing the ocean, pure white sand is raked into wave patterns. It was originally an estate of Hosokawa Katsumoto, a deputy of the shogun, and eventually became a temple after his death in 1473. Registered as a UNESCO site in 1994, Ryoanji is a subtemple of Myoshinji. Ryoanji Temple is one of the most famous Japanese Zen temples and gardens in Kyoto. A pleasant stroll through the quiet Zen garden in EnkojiĮnkoji, 13, Ichijojikotani-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-city 2. Another feature of the garden is an underground water basin that allows you to appreciate the gentle sound of dripping water. There is a small patch of bamboo trees that you can walk through and be sure to climb up the hill behind the garden, from where a bird’s eye view of the temple and the city. It provides lovely views of greenery in summer and stunning fall colors in autumn. The temple complex has a beautiful courtyard and a garden with a pond and many maple trees. You will find bamboo groves in Zen temples Enkoji’s principal object of worship is a statue of the thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva. Located in the outskirts of Kyoto, Enkoji temple is a hidden gem and it was one of my favorite Zen Gardens in Kyoto! A Buddha statue inside the Zen TempleĮnkoji was founded in 1601 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who brought about the Edo Period (1603-1867). It is famous for its autumn colors which are usually best in late November. Enko-ji TempleĮnkoji is a temple of the Rinzai Zen Sect, situated in northern Kyoto close to the Shugakuin Imperial Villa. Here are a few Kyoto Zen Temples and Gardens we visited during our December trip. It has something to look forward to – whether you visit during spring when the cherry tree limbs are covered with sakura blossoms or admire the lust greens in summer or golden hues in autumn or in winter when all is still and if you are lucky (like us) there might be a sprinkling of snow. One thing to note about Japanese gardens is that they are beautiful no matter the season. They were intended to imitate the essence of nature, not its actual appearance, and most importantly to serve as an aid to meditation. The zen gardens originated in China and were created at temples of Zen Buddhism. Switch the ladle to your left hand, and wash your right hand. Pick up the water ladle with your right hand. A water feature where you cleanse your hands, this simple action helps clean both your body and mind before entering the temple. The Japanese rock garden or “dry landscape” garden, often called a zen garden, creates a miniature stylized landscape with carefully composed arrangements of rocks, water features, moss, pruned trees and bushes, and uses gravel, smooth pebbles, or sand that is raked to represent ripples in water. See this bucket list of 50 Temples in Asia Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the Earth. And Kyoto has some of the best and beautiful Zen temples anywhere! While karesansui gardens can be found at temples of all Buddhist sects, they are common at Zen temples. Zen garden in fact, not the correct term, the Japanese call these gardens – “ karesansui” (dry landscape garden). ![]() Zen is a branch of Japanese Buddhism that originated in China and was introduced in Japan sometime in the eleventh century. If you are looking to find some peace and quiet during your trip (which is not so easy during Sakura season or Autumn), add these Japanese Zen temples and gardens to your Kyoto itinerary. It has the most beautiful Buddhist temples and Zen gardens. With over 1600 temples, Kyoto has long been a favorite destination for anyone looking for a cultural experience when visiting Japan.
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