Stunning autumn foliage at Tōfuku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, showcasing vibrant red and orange leaves.Culture

Tenryū-ji

天龍寺

Arashiyama, Kyoto · 京都

The first-ranked Zen temple of Kyoto, whose Sōgenchi pond garden has survived in its original 14th-century layout and borrows the Arashiyama hills as its backdrop.

Why it’s worth it

Pay the extra to go inside the building and sit on the veranda facing the pond. It is the clearest lesson in shakkei — borrowed scenery — anywhere.

CategoryCulture
AreaArashiyama
Hours08:30–17:00
Typical spend¥
borrowed scenerypond gardenunesco

Nearby

Walking distance from Tenryū-ji

All of Kyoto

More culture

Shrines, palaces and quiet rooms

Photo by Dmitry Romanoff on Pexels