Admire the beauty of Tenryuji Temple's Sogen Pond Garden in Arashiyama

Leaf KYOTO Store Locations Arashiyama [Tenryu-ji Temple] Fall in love with the beauty of Sogenchi Garden

2024.6.10

Arashiyama [Tenryu-ji Temple] Fall in love with the beauty of Sogenchi Garden

It was built in 1339 by Takauji Ashikaga on the site of Danrinji, a Zen temple founded by Kachiko Tachibana, the empress of Emperor Saga, who was called Empress Danrin.

Arashiyama, Togetsukyo Bridge, and Kameyama Park, which extends to the west of Tenryu-ji Temple, were once part of the precincts of the temple. The Sogen Pond Garden, which retains the image of Muso Kokushi's garden about 700 years ago, changes its appearance depending on the season: cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green in summer, autumn leaves in autumn, and snow in winter.

Snowscape of Sogenchi Garden at Tenryu-ji Temple

In the dharma hall, the 650th anniversary of Tenryu-ji Temple founder Muso Kokushi, the Japanese painter Matazo Kayama drew a powerful dragon glaring in all directions in ink on the ceiling.

［Autumn Foliage Information]
Best time to visit: Mid-November to early December
Early morning worship in autumn
Worship Period / Saturday, November 16, 2024 - Sunday, December 1, 2024
Hours of visitation/7:30~ *The gates open one hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. than the usual 8:30 a.m. (However, visits to the various halls are from 8:30 a.m. as usual).
Garden visitation fee/500 yen (same as usual) *Additional 300 yen for visiting various halls

［Cherry blossom viewing information]
Best time to visit: Late March to mid-April
Garden 8:30-17:00 (Reception closes at 16:50)
Halls 8:30-16:45 (reception closes at 16:30)
Dharma Hall "Dragon and Cloud Viewing" is open Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays only from 9:00 to 16:30 (reception ends at 16:20)
Open to the public every day during spring, summer, and fall.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Party
Period / Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time／10:00-15:00
Admission/500 yen for garden visit *Special outdoor tea ceremony seating (Matcha fee 800 yen not included)

Tenryu temple

Tenryuji
Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City
Immediately from Randen "Arashiyama Station"
13 minutes walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
Tel.075-881-1235
120 parking spaces (1,000 yen per passenger car per day)
https://www.instagram.com/heavenly_dragon.temple/
http://www.tenryuji.com/index.html
[Normal visit]
Garden 8:30-17:00 (Reception closes at 16:50)
Halls 8:30-16:45 (reception closes at 16:30)
Law hall "Unryu-zu" 9:00-16:30 (Reception closes at 16:20)
*The “Unryu-zu” is open to the public only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (open every day during spring, summer, and autumn)
Garden (Sogen Pond/Hyakkaen) Adults 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 300 yen, preschoolers free
For visits to the halls (Daihojo, Shoin, and Tahouden), an additional 300 yen is required for garden visits.
* Special public viewing of the Law Hall "Unryu-zu" 500 yen per person (separate from the regular admission fee above)

*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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