[Nanzen-ji Travel Guide] Explore a serene and beautiful space where history and nature exist in harmony

Nanzen-ji was the first Zen temple established by imperial command.
It was founded in 1291 when Emperor Kameyama, after abdication, invited the Zen master Mukan Fumon.
A cloistered emperor is, simply put, an emperor who has entered the priesthood, or a retired emperor who has abdicated the throne.
In other words, Nanzen-ji was founded when a deeply devout emperor welcomed a Zen master.
During the Nanboku-cho period (1336–1392), it was ranked above even the prestigious Kyoto Gozan and Kamakura Gozan as Gozan no Jo, or “above the Five Mountains.”
With distinguished Zen priests serving as head priests over the generations, it came to hold the highest status among Zen temples.
Given its long history, it is also worth knowing that the temple was caught up in various conflicts and has been repeatedly destroyed by fire and rebuilt.

Suirokaku is a brick arch aqueduct on the grounds of Nanzen-ji, with a maximum height of 13 meters and a width of 93.2 meters.
Built in 1888 to carry water from Lake Biwa into Kyoto City, it is still in use today.
It is a place where you can see the beautiful and unexpected harmony between the Japanese character of Nanzen-ji, founded in 1291, and the Western-style Suirokaku, built about 600 years later.
Because of its beautiful scenery, it is also a popular photo spot.

Sanmon is the main gate of Nanzen-ji and is also known as Tenka Ryumon.
The term sanmon refers to the three gates one must pass through on the path of Buddhist practice to reach enlightenment.
Standing 22 meters tall, it is one of the largest gates in Japan and is counted among both the Three Great Gates of Kyoto and the Three Great Gates of Japan.
In 1899, it was designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
The thick pillars supporting its 22-meter height give Sanmon an overwhelming sense of weight and presence.
Climb the stairs inside Sanmon and you’ll reach the upper level called Gohoro.
The panoramic view from Gohoro is spectacular and not to be missed.
Sanmon was originally built in 1295 through a donation from a noble family, but it was destroyed by fire during the Onin War in 1447.
The current gate was rebuilt in 1628 by the warlord Todo Takatora to honor soldiers who died in the Summer Siege of Osaka.

Tenjuan was founded by Kokan Shiren, the 15th head priest of Nanzen-ji, as a sub-temple to enshrine Mukan Fumon, the founder of Nanzen-ji.
In Zen temples, a sub-temple is a small temple built to honor the virtue of a founder or distinguished monk after their death.
Like Sanmon, Tenjuan was destroyed in the Onin War, but it was rebuilt in 1602.
Surrounded by many maple trees, Tenjuan includes the main hall, two gardens, and a study within its grounds.
The main hall and study are not open to the public, so the two most popular highlights are the karesansui dry landscape garden and the pond strolling garden.
The karesansui garden is located in front of the main hall.
Its cedar moss and white sand are beautiful, and it can be viewed from the veranda of the main hall. Its geometric stone pavement was unusual for its time.
The pond strolling garden is located south of the study, where water lilies floating on the pond create a dreamlike scene.
The autumn leaves at Tenjuan are truly beautiful, and the illuminated foliage is especially not to be missed.

Designated a National Treasure, the Hojo consists of the Ohojo and the Kohojo connected behind it.
Among the various rooms that make up the Hojo, one room you should be sure to see is the one known as the Tiger Room.
The powerful Group of Tigers paintings by Kano Tan’yu are a must-see.
The Group of Tigers is also designated as an Important Cultural Property.
The Ohojo is another highlight, as part of a building from the Kyoto Imperial Palace was relocated here, preserving the appearance of the imperial court to this day.

The Hojo has several beautiful gardens, so be sure to enjoy not only the building itself but also each of the adjacent gardens.
The Hojo Garden is located on the south side of the Ohojo and is designated as a national Place of Scenic Beauty.
It is a karesansui dry landscape garden created in the early Edo period by the tea master Kobori Enshu.
Made up of stones representing tigers and white gravel representing a river, it is affectionately known as Toranoko Watashi.
The Kohojo Garden on the west side of the Kohojo is also called Joshin-tei.
It was created under passionate guidance from the chief priest of Nanzen-ji at the time of its construction, who instructed that the arrangement of the stones should express the heart.
As a result, it has a calm atmosphere, like a mind that has attained liberation.
Further inside the Kohojo is the Rokudo Garden.
While the Kohojo Garden is said to resemble a liberated mind, the Rokudo Garden serves as a cautionary garden expressing the Buddhist worldview of reincarnation.

A long-established restaurant beloved for many years along the approach to Nanzen-ji, it shares Kyoto’s yudofu culture and traditional Kyoto culture through its specialty, boiled tofu.
While gazing out over its 3,967-square-meter strolling garden, which reflects the changing beauty of seasonal flowers and plants, you can leisurely enjoy its famous yudofu and yuba.
Jyunsei Shoin, located within the garden, was a medical academy built by the Edo-period scholar of Dutch studies and physician Shingu Ryotei, and is now designated as a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property.

A villa-style dining venue located on the grounds of Nanzen-ji, one of Kyoto’s best-known sightseeing spots, featuring the Soryu Garden created by the 11th-generation landscape gardener Ogawa Jihei.
Inside, guests can enjoy meals while viewing the garden from four different spaces: Higashiyama, Nanzen, Ohiroma, and Hanare.
The menu includes course meals and à la carte dishes made with A5-ranked Japanese black wagyu beef, as well as udon made from a house blend of domestic wheat flour.

A kaiseki restaurant set in a Japanese-style residence built in 1915.
Located along the approach to Nanzen-ji, it offers a relaxing time in a quiet atmosphere away from the bustle of the city.
Using ingredients that reflect the seasons and are unique to Kyoto, it serves Kyoto cuisine that can be enjoyed with all five senses, blending inherited tradition with fresh sensibility.

A relatively new shrine founded in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo.
Its shrine buildings recreate the Chodo-in, the main state hall complex where important ceremonies were held in ancient Heian-kyo.
The vermilion-painted buildings lining the grounds are beautiful, and stepping inside feels almost like traveling back to the Heian period.
With highlights such as the magnificent Daigokuden, modeled after the main hall of the Chodo-in, and the intricately designed Byakkoro and Soryuro, the site is filled with Important Cultural Properties designated by the Japanese government.

The Lake Biwa Canal is an artificial waterway connecting Otsu and Kyoto.
Completed in the Meiji era, it remains in use today and consists of features such as the First Canal with a total length of Approx. 20 kilometers, the Second Canal with a total length of Approx. 7.4 kilometers, and the Branch Canal with a total length of Approx. 3.3 kilometers.
Each area, including Otsu in Shiga, Yamashina in Kyoto, and Okazaki, offers its own distinctive scenery, and the Keage area is also a popular spot dotted with many historically valuable buildings and structures, such as the Keage Power Station (Phase 1), the first hydroelectric power plant in Japan built for general power supply, which began operation in 1891, and the Former Imperial Household Waterworks Pump Room, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property.

The head temple of the Seizan Zenrin-ji school of Jodo Buddhism, widely known as Eikando.
It began in 853 when Shinsho, a disciple of Kukai, opened it as a Shingon Buddhist training hall.
After the seventh head priest, Eikan, entered the temple in 1072, it gradually changed into a place of Pure Land Buddhist practice centered on nenbutsu.
It is so famous for its autumn leaves that it is also nicknamed “Eikando of the maples.”
When the leaves reach their peak, usually in mid-November, around 3,000 Japanese maple trees turn color and drape the temple grounds in vivid autumn shades.

A hotel standing directly in front of the World Heritage site Nijo Castle, on the former grounds of the main Mitsui family residence.
Many original remains such as the gate, garden stones, and stone lanterns have been preserved, while renowned designers and artists helped transform the site into a modern space of relaxation, reborn as a luxury hotel.
The guest rooms, designed by interior designer Andre Fu, total 161 rooms including 22 suites.

A design hotel conveniently located in Karasuma-Sanjo in central Kyoto, making it a great base for sightseeing.
Its interior is inspired by Edinburgh, the ancient Scottish city that is Kyoto’s sister city, creating a calm and comfortable atmosphere.
On the top floor, the spa facility Trinity features natural hot spring water drawn from 1,000 meters underground, along with spacious baths, a sauna, and a jacuzzi.

Located a 2-minute walk from Hankyu Omiya Station and Keifuku Shijo-Omiya Station, this hotel is an ideal base for visiting Arashiyama and sightseeing around the city.
Its calm atmosphere, inspired by the charm of a traditional Kyoto machiya townhouse, is one of its key appeals. Room options range from compact designer-style Japanese rooms to Japanese-Western rooms that can accommodate up to six guests, meeting a variety of travel needs.
Another welcome feature is the large public bath, spacious enough to stretch out and relax in.