Located in the scenic Arashiyama area in the western part of Kyoto Prefecture, Tenryūji is a Rinzai Zen temple and a designated World Heritage Site. It was originally built in the 1300s as a dedication to Emperor Go-Daigo by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji, though some structures have been rebuilt throughout the years. It is famous for its beautiful strolling garden.
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Temple & Buildings
After paying the small entrance fee, you will be asked to take your shoes off to explore the buildings without damaging the tatami mat floors. The rooms provide great examples of traditional Japanese architecture and Zen design, including a meditation hall, altar to the Buddha, tokonoma alcove, and verandas (engawa) along the exterior perimeter. The veranda is a popular place to sit and take in views of the spectacular garden.
A large dragon painting spans one entire wall – after all, the “ryū” in “Tenryūji” means “dragon.” The dragon’s eyes seem to look right at you!
There is also a stylistic painting of the Bodhidharma monk created by Hirata Seiko, former Chief Abbott of Tenryūji.
Tahōden (Hall of Many Treasures)
The Tahōden, or Hall of Many Treasures, contains a shrine with a statue of Emperor Go-Daigo.
Surrounding the shrine are amazing illustrations of various creatures painted onto the sliding doors.
Sogenchi Teien Landscape Garden
One of the most famous elements of Tenryūji is its picturesque garden, Sogenchi Teien. From the veranda of the main building, visitors can see sweeping views of the garden’s large pond, the foliage that surrounds it, and the tree-covered mountains. The garden, designed by Zen master Musō Soseki, is a good example of the landscape design technique shakkei, meaning borrowed scenery – in this case, from the mountains in the background.
According to Tenryuji’s website, Sogenchi Garden was the first place in Japan to receive the designation of a Site of Special Historic and Scenic Importance by the Japanese government.
In the pond are nice stone arrangements, an important symbolic feature of Zen gardens.
Colorful koi fish call the pond their home.
The landscape changes with the seasons. In spring, a few cherry blossoms are in bloom around the temple. In autumn, red and gold trees surround the pond and dot the mountains.
In early summer, purple irises are in bloom along the water.
Inclined Walking Path
On a bit of an incline is a tree-lined walking path that grants different perspectives of Tenryūji’s grounds. Further up, you can see a nice vista of the Arashiyama area and the distant mountains.
You can also see a neighboring grove of tall bamboo.
Kannon Statue
In the northern area of Tenryūji is a statue of Kannon bodhisattva standing before a small pool that visitors can throw coins into. There are some neat frog sculptures sitting in the pool. Apparently, landing a coin on top of the frog sculpture’s head is said to bring good luck.
Vegetarian Shōjin-Ryōri at Shigetsu
For a real treat, have lunch at Shigetsu, a restaurant that serves Buddhist cuisine known as shōjin-ryōri. This type of cuisine is vegetarian and reflects the principles of Zen Buddhism. A lunch here is one of the best vegetarian meals in Japan.
The meal is made up of small, individual plates served on a tray in pretty red and black bowls. These plates consist of rice, soup, tofu, fresh vegetables, and edible plants. A plate of fresh fruit like a slice of melon is served as a dessert. Guests get a pot of tea to go with the meal as well.
The artfully prepared plates are designed so that no one flavor overpowers the others. Each dish works in harmony with the others, which illustrates shōjin-ryōri’s principle of bringing balance to the mind and body.
The minimalist architecture of the dining rooms is lovely. Long strips of red carpet are rolled out for seating on tatami mat floors. Guests eat in a communal style with each patron sitting on the floor next to one another in a long row along the red carpet.
Natural light comes through the pretty picture windows overlooking the temple and its foliage.
Neighboring Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
The north gate exit will take you out to the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where you can continue to explore the beauty and history of Kyoto.
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(All photos taken by Clara Juliette)
Clara hopes to share her love of exploring cultures and inspire others through the power of storytelling. In addition to writing and travel, she loves psychology, nature, green tea, and cats.