Tenryuji Temple

Tenryuji (天龍寺, Tenryūji), located in Kyoto's scenic Arashiyama district, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city's most significant Zen temples. Founded in 1339 by shogun Ashikaga Takauji to honor Emperor Go-Daigo, Tenryuji serves as the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Although the temple’s buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times due to fires and wars, it remains a vital center of Zen practice and history. Its historical significance is matched by its peaceful setting, as the temple complex blends seamlessly into the surrounding natural landscape.

The temple's most famous feature is its original garden, designed by the renowned Zen master and landscape architect Muso Soseki in the 14th century. The garden centers around a large pond (Sogenchi Pond), framed by carefully arranged rocks, manicured pine trees, seasonal plants, and borrowed scenery from the distant Arashiyama mountains. This design exemplifies the principles of shakkei (borrowed scenery), creating a harmonious blend between the man-made and natural worlds. In every season, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant autumn colors, Tenryuji's garden offers a tranquil retreat and one of the finest surviving examples of traditional Zen landscape design in Japan.