Ryoan-ji
龍安寺
Famous worldwide for its dry landscape garden of 15 stones set in white gravel, Ryoan-ji is a masterpiece of Japanese Zen garden design.
Ryoan-ji belongs to the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen school and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The stone garden in front of the abbot's quarters has 15 stones arranged in white gravel. No matter where you sit to view it, one stone is always hidden from sight, which is meant to provoke thought. It is considered Japan's most famous karesansui (dry landscape garden). The temple also has a tsukubai water basin inscribed with the phrase “Ware tada taru o shiru” (“I only know contentment”), and a stroll garden around the Kyoyochi Pond that is beautiful in both spring cherry blossoms and autumn maple leaves. Admission is about 600 yen. Hours are 8:00 to 17:00 (8:30 to 16:30 in winter). It is about 2 km from Kinkaku-ji, and you can walk the Kinugake no Michi (Kinugake Road) to Ninna-ji.
Opening hours
08:00–17:00 (Dec–Feb 08:30–16:30)
Nearby sights
- Ninna-ji
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Kitano Tenmangu
- Daitoku-ji
- Nijo Castle
- Sagano Romantic Train
- Kamigamo Shrine
- Kyoto Imperial Palace