Ryōan-ji
Zen temple · Ukyō, Kyoto

Ryōan-ji

Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A Zen temple home to Japan's most famous dry rock garden: fifteen stones set in raked white gravel, framed by an earthen wall. Its meaning is left open, and sitting on the veranda to look at it is the point. The wider grounds include a large pond and quiet woodland paths.

On day 4 of Kyoto in 5 days

Good to know

Time to spend
45 minutes–1 hour
Tickets
Paid entry, no booking needed
Best time
Right at opening, before tour groups arrive
Getting there
Randen Ryoanji Station, or bus to Ryoanji-mae

Itineraries with Ryōan-ji

Day 4 of Kyoto in 5 days

Northern temples and central Kyoto

How Ryōan-ji fits into a day.
  1. 9:00Kinkaku-jiKita
  2. 10:30Ryōan-ji rock gardenUkyō
  3. 13:30Nijō CastleNakagyō
  4. 16:00Nishiki MarketNakagyō
See all 5 days
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Ryōan-ji questions

Why can't you see all 15 rocks at Ryōan-ji?

The stones are arranged so that from any spot on the veranda at least one is hidden from view.

Can you walk from Kinkaku-ji to Ryōan-ji?

Yes. It is about a 20–25 minute walk along Kinukake-no-michi road.

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