Tenryū-Ji

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  • Address
    Saga Tenryū-ji, Susukinobaba-chō 68, Ukyō-ku
  • Phone
    881 1235
  • Transport
    underground rail: 5min walk from Keifuku Arashiyama Station, Keifuku Arashiyama line

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Lonely Planet review

This fine temple has one of the most attractive stroll gardens in all of Kyoto, particularly during the spring cherry-blossom and autumns-foliage seasons. The main 14th-century Zen garden, with its backdrop of the Arashiyama mountains, is a good example of shakkei . Unfortunately, it's no secret that the garden here is world class, so it pays to visit early in the morning or on a weekday.

Tenryū-ji is a major temple of the Rinzai school. It was built in 1339 on the old site of Go-Daigo's villa after a priest dreamt of a dragon rising from the nearby river. The dream was seen as a sign that the emperor's spirit was uneasy and so the temple was built as appeasement - hence the name tenryū (heavenly dragon). The present buildings date from 1900. Arashiyama's famous bamboo grove lies just outside the north gate of the temple.

Tenryū-ji is also a popular place to sample shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine)