Supreme Garden of Tenryuji, Kyoto

Gorgeous garden at a World Heritage Site in Saga, Kyoto

Takako Sakamoto Sep 18, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Looking at this brilliant pond colored in red, from the large abbey, 'Dai-hojo'</p>

<p>Beautiful garden with Mt. Arashi (Arashiyama) in the background. The Ooi River runs through between the garden and Mt. Arashi</p>

<p>The Tea House, 'Sho-unkaku / Kan-u-tei', which is located on the right side of the corridor leading to 'Taho-den'</p>

<p>Maple leaves shining gold at 'Bokyo-no-oka (the hill overlooking Kyoto)'</p>

<p>This temple was Japan's first officially designated historical site, also a 'Special Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan'. The west side of the garden borrows scenery from Mt. Kame</p>

<p>Inside 'Taho-den'; a wooden statue of Emperor Go-Daigo</p>

<p>This garden was designed by Muso-kokushi (Muso Soseki) about 700 years ago</p>

<p>I found some very rare 'rockfoil' plants here!</p>

<p>When you take the 'Bokyo-no-oka (the hill overlooking Kyoto)' temple tour course, you'll go through this brilliant tunnel of red maple trees</p>

<p>Breath taking beauty of autumn invites you...</p>

A World Heritage Site: 'Tenryuji Temple' in Saga, Kyoto, is renowned for its scenic beauty.

It is a well-known fact that Ashikaga Takauji built this temple to pray for the soul of Emperor Go-Daigo, his enemy, but you'll be surprised to find how spacious this place is!

The right side of the temple grounds faces the Ooi River, which flows from Arashiyama (Mt. Arashi), with the bamboo groves of Sagano spread out on its north side. On the west side is located my favorite garden, 'Sogenchi Pond Garden'. This is an excursion style garden, in which the promenade circulates around Sogenchi Pond in the center. In autumn, the views of Arashiyama (Mt. Arashi) on the south and Kameyama (Mt. Kame) on the west seen through this pond is a great sight to behold. GORGEOUS!

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Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...