In 1202 (Kennin 2), Minamoto no Yoriie donated the temple grounds, and Eisai, the founder of the Rinzai sect, opened it as the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and one of Kyoto's five great temples.
The temple grounds are lined up in a north-south line with three gates, the Dharma Hall, and the Hojo building, and the Hojo front garden, the courtyard garden, and the garden of ○, △, △, and □ are beautiful gardens with a sense of dryness. In autumn, the garden is decorated with beautiful autumn colors such as red and yellow maple leaves and lighthouse azaleas. The temple also houses many temple treasures, including the National Treasure "Wind and Thunder Gods" by Sotatsu Tawaraya (a facsimile is usually displayed), a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, the eleven-faced Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), and a painting of two dragons in the Dharma Hall. A powerful replica of the National Treasure, the Wind and Thunder Gods, can be viewed. Visitors can also experience sutra copying and zazen meditation, so take some time to reflect on your own life.