Nanzen-Ji in Kyoto, Japan is a vast complex with numerous subtemples, gardens and shrines sprawling up the hillside, including another pebble garden, hiking trails, waterfalls and a mountain glen.
Nanzen-ji was bestowed the title of “First Temple of the Land” and is considered by many to be the most famous and important Zen Temple in the world. It’s designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nanzenin is a smaller sub-temple behind the main Nanzen-ji, and it’s one of the oldest and yet one of the least well-known sub temples, perhaps because it’s slightly hidden away. It started out as a retirement villa for the Emperor Kameyama.
Perhaps the main feature of Nanzenin is the small pond and quiet moss garden surrounded by Momiji trees and azaleas. And the pond has several tiny islets including one that shaped like the character for heart.
The pond garden was built in the strolling style representing the late Kamakura period and retains an image of beautiful scenery surrounded by deep forest with an exceptional atmosphere of peace and tranquility. It was designated a national historic and scenic site in 1923.
It’s a very small garden that you could walk around in five minutes and exit but it’s so pretty that it’s certainly worth stopping and standing and enjoying each of the views from its own particular angle, which of course is the way these gardens are designed. They are strolling gardens, so the idea is to walk along with your eyes open and stop here and there, look this way, look that way, and enjoy all the different views as they unfold.
AloJapan.com