Zen temple Daitoku-ji

Lying halfway between the Kamo-gawa and the Kitayama hills, Daitoku-ji (大徳寺) is one of Kyoto’s largest Zen temple complexes, with over twenty sub-temples in its large, walled compound. Of these only four are open to the public, but within them you’ll find a representative sampler of the dry gardens (kare-sansui) for which Japanese Zen Buddhism is renowned.

Entering from the east, head through the huge San-mon gate to Daisen-in (大仙院) in the north of the compound. This sub-temple contains two gardens, the most famous of which is on the right as you enter the main hall. It replicates a Chinese landscape painting, and the garden uses carefully selected rocks, pebbles and a few scaled-down plants to conjure up jagged mountains.

It pays to visit Daisen-in early in the day before the crowds arrive. However, Daitoku-ji’s other sub-temples remain surprisingly quiet; probably the most interesting of these is Ryōgen-in (龍源院), lying just south of the San-mon gate. The temple was also founded in the early sixteenth century and is home to Japan’s smallest Zen rock garden. The minuscule Tōtekiko garden, on your right-hand side as you continue along the corridor from the entrance, consists of waves of sand round a rock, symbolizing a Zen saying that the harder a stone is thrown, the bigger the ripples.

Going to Kyoto? Prepare for your trip with our guide to the best places to stay in Kyoto.

Ready to travel and discover
Japan?

Get support from our local experts for
stress-free planning & worry-free travels

Plan my trip ⤍