Ryouan-ji Temple

桜の名所
紅葉の名所
世界遺産
★★★ ミシュラングリーンガイド三ツ星

History

A place of foundation Ryouan-ji was a mountain villa of the Tokudaijis, who was descended from the Fujiwarakitas. The place of the villa was transferred to Katsumoto Hosokawa, who was known to the Kanryo, which is second post, in Muromachi Era and the first Lord of the East army in the battle of Ouninnoran(1467-1477). In 1450 (the 4th year of Hotoku) Katsumoto Hosokawa invites Gitengennsho who was Myoshinji 5th the chief priest in order to start temple and founded Ryouan-ji. The area of the temple is much wider than now and Keidai was reached to the Keifuku line far from 600m to the south.
Katsumoto Hosokawa was died in the Battle of Ouninnoran right after foundation of Ryouan-ji. But Masamoto whose son was Katsumoto and Dokuhouzenketsu who was 4th the chief of priest rebuilt Ryoan-ji in 1488 (the 2nd year of Chokyu). He is called “the person refounded the temple”.
In 1499(the 8th year of Meiou), a living quarters of the head priest was erected and a rock garden was made. In 1797 (the 9th year of Kanei), a living quarter of the head priest, the quarters palace for the founded priest , a buddhist building and etc were burnt and a head of the quarters living of tone on the head of towers was trasfered from Saigen-in, and now the chief of priest is still existing. It was protected that HIdeyoshi Toyotomi and Edo Goverment was contribute “Jiryo”According to the Guidebook at that time, a stroll-stype landscape garden the Garden of Ikeizumi is more popular than a rock
Garden.In 1975 when the Elisabeth Queen visited Japan as a formal visit, she praised a rock garden in Ryouanji highly and foreign media reported it. Recently Forreign visitor is more than Japanese visitors because of Japan booming.

translation:Michy

High Light

Ryouan-ji is famous for a rock garden. This garden has mystery. At first, could you count the number of stones. There are 15 stones. And could you sit down and watch the garden? Do you notice one stone is missing at every point of view. A big pond , called KYO-YO-IKE, sets three big or small islandsand, and IKEIZUMSHUYU and Garden, which you can look at Mt.Kinugasa.
High Light is the spot that can look at landscape of Mt Kinugasa from the west side of this pond, especially at sunset.
Autumn leaves ,which we can watch oil sand wall and tunnel covered with red and yellow autumn at stone steps, is most beautiful.

translation:Michy

Cherry blossom

The Gradation from deep pink of SAKURA in the rock garden, light Someiyoshino, the colaboration with fifteen stones is felt as if I were in other world. And The Sakura garden in West point is not known to a lot of people.

translation:Michy

Mischeran

Ryouanji and a rock garden is selected“Three Stars”.

translation:Michy

Address: 13 Ryoanji Goryou Shimomchi, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, 616-8001
TEL: +81-75-463-2216
FAX: +81-75-463-2218
Formal Name: Ryouan-ji
Sangou (Mountain Name): Daiunzan
Sect: Rinzaishu sect, Myoshiji School
Idol: Shaka Nyorai
Date Founded: 1450（second year of the Houtoku Era）
Founding Patron: Katsumoto Hosokawa Gitengensho
Cultural Properties: A Dry Landscape Garden（National Historical Site, Special place of scenic beauty）
Garden （National place of scenic beauty）
Figure of the silk work colored Yawata mandala(Kyoto・Cultural assets ）
Admission: Adults : 600 yen
High School Students: 500 yen
Elementary school students and Middle School students: 300yen
Hours: 8:00～17:00（March - November）
8:30～16:30（December - February）
Parking: Available（One hour Free for visiting a dry landscape garden）
Access Guide: Keifuku-dentetsu “Ryoanjimichi and 7 minuets walk
City bus “Ritsumeikan Univ, and 7 minuets walk
Official Website: http://www.ryoanji.jp