Ryoanji Temple Tourism

Ryoanji Temple is a Zen temple located in Kyoto, Japan, famous for its karesansui (dry landscape) rock garden, one of the finest examples of Japanese rock gardens, which attracts visitors from all around the world. The garden's origins and the meaning of its arrangement are unknown, but there is a great deal of speculation about the garden's Zen symbolism. The temple itself was founded in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto. Ryoanji means 'The Temple of the Dragon at Peace'. The garden measures 30 meters from east to west and 10 meters from south to north. Fifteen carefully placed rocks appear to be drifting in a sea of white gravel, which is raked meticulously by the monks to resemble the waves. Despite its simplicity, the careful composition's aesthetics and enigmatic significance make visitors and scholars alike ponder its secrets. Apart from the rock garden, the temple complex includes a park with a pond, which is surrounded by beautiful trees and is particularly stunning during cherry blossom season. The site is a part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.