Ryoanji Temple (Kyoto) FAQs In 2026 - 2027

Ryoanji Temple, located in Kyoto, Japan, is a Zen Buddhist temple renowned for its magnificent rock garden, which is considered one of the finest examples of karesansui (dry landscape) gardens in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a part of the

Ryoanji Temple was established in 1450 by the deputy of the Ashikaga shogunate, Hosokawa Katsumoto. The temple's rock garden, however, was added at a later time, possibly in the late 16th century.

Ryoanji Temple is unique for its rock garden, which consists of fifteen rocks arranged on raked white gravel within a space of 248 square meters. The rocks are arranged such that, from any vantage point, at least one rock is always hidden from the viewer. The garden's Zen aesthetic invites contemplation and interpretation, making it one of the most famous Zen gardens in the world.