Ryoan-ji Temple

Ryoan-ji Temple

Ryoan-ji temple houses the most famous zen rock garden in Japan which was the simplest garden I've seen - it consist of fifteen rocks laid out in raked white gravel. The garden is an example of kare sansui (dry landscape) style. The rocks were arranged such that at any angle or point you look at, you could only see 14 rocks.

View from the platform of the rock garden.

There was less crowd during our visit so I took the time to sit on the platform and look at the garden. I've read in some reviews that this garden isn't worth the visit - that there's nothing to see or experience. I'm glad I didn't believe what I read.

Ryoan-ji rock garden.

I took my time watching the garden and just forget everything else. I never thought that such simple arrangement of rocks and pebbles is very relaxing to look at. The sun was also helping because it was freezing that time.

There are no records of when the garden was constructed and its meaning is also not clear which makes it more mysterious. I guess the meaning of the garden depends on your perception, on what you feel when looking at it. What I realized here is a lot of things in life is simple yet most of us make it complicated although you also have the option of not thinking what this garden means - just relax and enjoy its simplicity.

The temple also boasts beautiful and stunning gardens.

How to get there:

Coming from Ninnaji Temple, take City bus 59 and get off at Ryoanji mae.

Opening Hours and fees: 

Opening Hours: 0800H - 1700H (Mar - Nov), 0830H-1630H (Dec-Feb)
Fees: 500 yen (Adult), 300 Yen (Children under 15)

Website: Ryoanji Temple

Ninna-ji: Old Imperial Palace

Ninna-ji: Old Imperial Palace

Ninna-ji temple is one of my favorite temples in Kyoto; very peaceful and not crowded at all as compared to other well-known temples.There were only a couple of visitors when we went here so we took our time wandering around, staring at stunningly painted walls and appreciating the beautiful gardens.

Nio-mon Gate

The moment we got down from the bus we were wondering if we were in the right place because there weren't a lot of people and some of them just passed by and did not enter the temple. Good thing there was google and when we saw Nio-mon gate we know we were in the right path. 

Goten

Shinden's North Garden

Shinden's South Garden

Chu-mon

Five-Storied Pagoda

Kon-do

The temple was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto in 1994.

How to get there: 

From Hankyu Saiin Station, take City Bus 26 and get off at Omuro Ninna-ji. The bus stops right in front of the temple.

Opening Hours and Fees:

Opening Hours: 0900H-1700H (until 1630H from December to February)

Fee: 500 Yen (Goten Palace buildings)

Website: Ninna-ji Temple