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Tenryu-ji Temple (World cultural heritage)
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- Tenryu-ji, located in the Sagano district in the western outskirts of Kyoto, is the head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
- The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339 to honor the emperor Godaigo, and Muso Soseki served as its first chief priest.
- The main attraction of Tenryu-ji Temple is the Zen garden dating back to the 14th century.
- A triumph of design, the garden features a large pond which catches the reflection of the maple trees and large rough-cut rocks on the periphery.
- It also makes use of "borrowed scenery" from the nearby hills of Arashiyama, which appear to be the next tier of the garden.
- Many elements of this garden were prototypes for later gardens built elsewhere.
The cherry tree of Tenryu-ji.
- In autumn, the maples provide a fine display of fall color, while in spring you might see the blossoms of wild cherry trees or the stunted trunks of Japanese red pines on the distant hills.
The autumnal leaves of Tenryu-ji.
View Tenryu-ji Temple in a larger map
- [Address]
- 68 Saga-tenryuji-susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
- TEL : 075-881-1235
- [Access]
- Keifuku Railway; 3-minute walk from Arashiyama Station.
- Hankyu Railway; 15-minute walk from Arashiyama Station.
- City Bus; 1-minute walk from Bus Stop Keifuku Arashiyama-eki-mae.
Access to Tenryu-ji
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