Tenryuji is one of the major temples of the Rinzai school of Zen. It was built in the 1300s by shogun Ashikaga Takauji to appease the spirit of Emperor Godaigo. Through the centuries it was destroyed by fires and warfare and rebuilt on a number of occasions. Most of the extant buildings date from the 1900s, but the main attraction is its 14th century Zen garden.
Contemplative waters
Tenryujis’s beautiful pond is particularly calm and quiet. Visitors sit on a mat in the shelter opposite the pond and look out at elevated rock groupings, which are among the finest in Japan. Behind the pond there are maple trees that put on a spectacular display of autumn colour, and also the ‘borrowed scenery’ of hillsides rising to Arashiyama. On the day we visited, Don noticed some wild cherry trees growing on the hillside, and also spotted a beautiful Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora).
Hoen-in
Part of the gardens of the Tenryuji Temple was sold years ago and a modern garden was constructed. The garden, which was eventually bought back by the temple, is very sympathetic with the stylised and ancient gardens of Japan but has a new, artistic interpretation. Don pointed out many fascinating effects that could easily be adapted for Australian gardens using local materials. They included a dry lake of round, greyish river pebbles, bamboo fencing, raked gravel, rock pathways and fine blue metal as paving.
Further Information
Address:
Tenryuji Temple
Susukinobaba-cho
Tenryuji, Saga, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
How to Get There:
The fastest way to get from Kyoto Station to Arashiyama is by JR Sagano Line (San-in Line) to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 15 minutes) from where it is a 5 minute walk into the center of Arashiyama.
JALPAK
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