Ryoanji Is The Epitome Of
Japanese Rock Garden Design
Of all the temples in Kyoto, Japan, Ryoanji Temple is most famous for having a Japanese rock garden.
The temple was founded in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto and became a Rizai sect Zen Buddhist temple following his death.
The rock garden design is of the karesansui (dry landscape) style.
Its true origin and meaning are cause for debate, making it all the more mysterious.
Japanese Rock Gardens Are Built On Rock And Roll.
Consisting of raked white gravel, moss and 15 rocks, its invitation of quiet contemplation is hard to resist inspite of the temple broadcasting recorded explantations (unfortunately no actually cool music) over the loudspeakers.
And as if loudspeakers weren`t enough...
As with many Japanese temples, (and particularly if it is a Kyoto temple), hoards of visitors are common place.
To have any chance at all for some silent introspection, your best bet would be to arrive first thing in the morning or possibly an hour or so before closing.
Even then, there is no guarantee.
Here`s a tip for you, when looking at Japanese gardens or looking for good rock garden ideas for your backyard, don`t just think about the rocks, but also the space surrounding them....
Opening Hours:
March to November 8:00am - 5:00pm
December to February 8:30am - 4:30pm
Entry:
500 yen
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