Located in the Arashiyama (嵐山) district in Kyoto, Japan, Tenryu-ji Zen Temple (天龍寺 or “Temple of the Celestial Dragon”) with its beautiful landscape garden, Sogenchi Garden, is a must-go before heading to the nearby famous bamboo groves. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tenryu-ji was considered first among the five great Zen temples in Kyoto. You can read more about its history here.
Head here early in the morning to avoid the crowd and truly enjoy the spectacular views that the garden offers. Entry fees are ¥100 for the temple and ¥500 for the garden.
Before heading to the entrance of the temple and buying the entry tickets, there is already beauty to behold – smaller shrines with exquisite gardens and the striking Torii (鳥居). Don’t miss looking into each enclave.
Get your tickets at the entrance to the Temple, and leave your shoes at the shoes’ pigeon hole before stepping into the tatami-laid grounds of the Temple.
For the temple, you can sit and admire the landscape garden with its koi pond, rocks, trees and the forested Arashiyama in the background. It’s like a Chinese oil painting. Sit and let this beauty calm your mind, soul and heart. I let out a sigh at this view.
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- Main Entrance of Tenryu-Ji and Sogenchi Garden in Arashiyama, Kyoto
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- Smaller shrines and their beautiful gardens right outside Tenryu-ji
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- A Torii right outside Tenryu-ji
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- Tenryu-ji Zen Temple – Shrine Entrance
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- View of the Garden while sitting on the tatami in the Temple
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- Rest and enjoy the view of the Garden
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- Arashiyama in the background. Koi pond in the foreground.
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- Koi Pond and the River of Gravels
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- Like a Chinese calligraphy oil painting
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- This might be the living quarters.
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- Greenery everywhere
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- A bamboo covered well
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- A little rock pool against the beautiful koi pond and majestic Arashiyama
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- A babbling brook within the grounds of Tenryu-ji temple. What music it makes!
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- Entering the Sogenchi Garden
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- Beautiful Japanese maples at the Sogenchi Garden
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- Moss Garden at Sogenchi Garden – So surreal
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- Moss Garden – So green, so ancient, so surreal
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- Loving Japanese maples
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- Up the stairs I go to discover another view of the place
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- A different vantage point of the nearby bamboo groves
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- Getting really excited when I saw the bamboo forest nearby
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- This purification fountain is found at the back of Tenryu-ji Zen Temple. within the Sogenchi Garden.
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- Engraved on the fountain are words that meant “To cleanse your heart’. Use the ladles, fill it fresh water from the bamboo spout, and rinse both your hands. The water feels cold and soft to the touch.
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- Willowing Trees in Sogenchi Garden
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- Spring and Autumn have both arrived at this Garden
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- Exiting from the Sogenchi Garden to the nearby bamboo groves
When you exit the temple, put your shoes back on and head to Sogenchi Garden on the right of this entrance. I recommend walking through the Sogenchi Garden with its ancient moss garden. pling thinks…they are so surreal that they seem to beyond this world. Be brave and climb the stairs for a different vantage point of the nearby bamboo groves.
I exited from the Sogenchi Garden, near the purification fountain. This exit leads to the nearby bamboo groves or forest. Once you exit, you cannot re-enter. So, slow down, and admire the tranquil beauty that this place has to offer.
How to get to Arashiyama and Tenryu-ji Zen Temple
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Sagano line (Platform 32, 33) to the JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. The train ride takes about 20 minutes.
From the JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, there are clear signs to indicate how you can walk to the Tenryu-ji Zen Temple.
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