Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenyru-ji is a major temple of the Rinzai School. It was built in 1339 on the former site of Emperor Go-Daigo's villa after a priest dreamt of a dragon rising from the nearby river.
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.
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. In any season, as you sit in the shelter and view the garden, you will likely find your thoughts settling and your body relaxing. The garden has a way of calming one's spirit and it was designed partly for this reason.
The name Tenryuji means, "Heavenly Dragon Temple," and it was built after a shogun who dreamed of a dragon rising from a nearby river, which was taken to mean that the recently-deceased Emperor Go-Daigo was not resting peacefully. The temple with its garden was built to placate his spirit. It is now the headquarters of the Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism. Visitors can also sample the temple's Zen vegetarian cuisine, known as "shojin ryori."
* Address: 68 Saga-tenryuji-susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
* Tel.:075-881-1235
* Access: 10-minute walk from JR Saga-arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line
1-minute walk from City Bus Stop Keifuku Arashiyama-eki-mae
3-minute walk from Keifuku Railway Arashiyama Station
15-minute walk from Hankyu Railway Arashiyama Station
* Hours: 8:30-17:30, 8:30-17:00(10/21-3/20)
* Entrance Fee: Adults (including University/High School Students) 500 yen
Children (including Junior High School Students) 300 yen
Elementary School Students and below free
