Tenryu-ji Temple, located in Saga-Arashiyama, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, is a Zen temple founded by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, to pray for the repose of Emperor Godaigo. It was founded by Muso Soseki, a high priest at the time, and is registered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Cultural Assets of Ancient Kyoto" due to its vast grounds and historical value. Particularly famous is the "Sogenchi Garden," which is said to have been designed by Muso Soseki himself. The stroll-style pond garden, which incorporates Arashiyama and Kameyama into its scenery, shows beautiful expressions throughout the seasons and captivates its viewers.

You can enjoy the view of Sogenchi Garden from various angles while touring the various halls such as the Daihojo, Shoin, and Tahoden. In addition, on the ceiling of the lecture hall, there is a powerful painting of a dragon in the clouds by the Japanese painter Matazo Kayama. It is called the dragon that looks like it is glaring at you from any angle. There are many other things to see that convey the spirit of Zen, such as the Bodhidharma painting hanging at the main entrance of the kuri (kitchen quarters).

It is the first of the Five Mountains of Kyoto as a Zen temple. It is also registered as a World Heritage Site as a "Cultural Asset of Ancient Kyoto".


Nanzen-ji Temple (special rank)
1st place: Tenryu-ji Temple
2nd place: Shokoku-ji Temple
3rd place: Kennin-ji Temple
4th place: Tofuku-ji Temple
5th place: Manju-ji Temple

The garden is also a magnificent pond garden with borrowed scenery, which is comparable to Arashiyama.

[Hidden gem]
In addition to walking around the Sogen-chi Garden, you can also enjoy a stroll around the Hyakkaen Garden on the north side of the garden, where flowers bloom in every season and you can enjoy a relatively quiet stroll. In particular, at the back of Hyakukaen there is a north gate that leads to a bamboo forest path, allowing you to easily move to the bamboo forest of Sagano.