Kyoto’s Most FAMOUS Zen Garden | Ryoanji Temple Walking Tour

Kyoto’s Most FAMOUS Zen Garden | Ryoanji Temple Walking Tour

Today we’re on the western side of Kyoto visiting Ryanji Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple that has extensive gardens and is home to one of the most famous rock gardens in Japan. So come with us as we explore Ryanji Temple. Originally an aristocrat’s villa during the Han period, the site was converted into a Zen Buddhist temple in 1450. The temple belongs to the Mio Shinji school of the Renzai sect of Zen Buddhism whose head temple stands just a kilometer south of Ryanji temple. Ryanji temple was established by Hosakawa Kasamoto. The deputy to the Ashikaga shoguns in 1450. It was destroyed by fire during the Onan wars about two decades later and rebuilt. The Hojo or Abbott’s quarters were constructed in 1499 and the garden is presumed to be constructed at the same time. The Hojo was then destroyed by another fire in 1797. And after that fire, the current Hojo was brought to the current site from Seian, a subtemple of Renji. Renji was frequented by Toyotomy Hideoshi, feudal lord during the 16th century. One of the most striking outdoor features is the rock garden outside the hojo. The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthn walls. 15 rocks are laid out in small groups on patches of moss. An interesting feature of the garden’s design is that from any vantage point, at least one of the rocks is always hidden from the viewer. The garden is very well curated and it was very nice to just sit on the edge of the hojo and just enjoy your surroundings, especially in a really nice sunny day that we had when we were visiting for late autumn. We were getting temperatures like 22 to 24° C every day, especially in Kyoto. And it was amazing. Remember how earlier I said that they presumed the garden was built around the same time as the Hojo in 1499? The reason that it’s presumed is that there is no surviving records of who designed and installed the garden. The garden is said to hold four mysteries and this is the biggest. Outside of the hoou there is the Buddha hall and the tea room, but they are currently closed to the public. As you saw from our walk in and what you’ll see later in the video is that there is sprawling gardens surrounding the temple including Cure Yipond. Ryanji Temple is a 5-minute bus ride from King Kakaji to Rion Anji Machi Station with a 5 to 10 minute walk to the temple. If you are visiting King Kakuji prior to going to Ranji Temple, it is about a 20-minute walk. We walked from King Kakaji and whilst most of the walk is flat, the last part is up a hill and next to quite a busy road. So, if that doesn’t appeal to you, I do recommend getting a taxi. I’ll leave a link to the access information on Rianji Temple’s website in the description box below. Admission to Riyanji Temple is 600 yen for adults and between 300 and 500 yen for children depending on their age. Renji Temple was busy, but it wasn’t as busy as say King Kakaji or the philosopher’s path. And once you leave the Hojo and go out into the massive gardens around the pond, you don’t really feel crowded by people. So if you’re visiting other temples in the area, I do highly recommend that you visit Rianji Temple. Both the outer garden and the rock garden are spectacular to see in person. And as you saw earlier, the paintings in the hojo on the walls are magnificent. So it’s definitely one to add to your list for Kyoto. If you’re planning to visit Kyoto during your next Japan trip, I highly recommend checking out our Japan playlist for inspiration and ideas for your next trip. I definitely recommend checking out the smaller shrines and temples because uh not many tourists do. If you enjoyed this video, please let me know in the comments below and thanks for watching.

Step into tranquility at Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺), home to Japan’s most celebrated Zen rock garden. If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto, you cannot miss this iconic landmark. Join us for a complete walking tour as we explore the temple’s fascinating history, stunning dragon art, and the famous Karesansui (dry landscape garden) that has puzzled visitors for centuries.
Is Ryoanji Temple worth visiting? We think so! Find out everything you need to know for your visit.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Welcome to Ryoanji Temple in Autumn
00:02 – Entering the Main Gate
00:20 – The History of Ryoanji Temple
01:18 – Inside the Hojo (Abbot’s Quarters) & Dragon Paintings
01:52 – The Famous Zen Rock Garden (Karesansui)
02:22 – Exploring the Temple Grounds
03:24 – Walking Around Kyoyochi Pond
03:56 – Practical Tips: How to Get Here & Admission Fees

VISITOR INFORMATION:
Location: Ryoanji Temple, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Admission: ¥600 (Adults)
How to Get There: It’s a 20-minute walk or a short 5-minute bus/taxi ride from Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion), making it easy to visit both on the same day!
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Link to the Ryoanji Temple official website: http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/rode/index.html

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