Tenryū-ji
Zen temple · Arashiyama, Kyoto

Tenryū-ji

Photo: osakaosaka · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The head temple of a major Zen school and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Arashiyama. Its 14th-century pond garden, set against the forested hills behind it, is one of the oldest surviving gardens of its kind in Japan. A back gate leads straight into the bamboo grove.

On day 1 of Kyoto in 5 days

Good to know

Time to spend
45 minutes–1 hour
Tickets
Paid garden entry; halls cost extra. No booking needed
Best time
Opening time, or autumn for the maples
Getting there
Across the street from Randen Arashiyama Station

Itineraries with Tenryū-ji

Day 1 of Kyoto in 5 days

Arashiyama

How Tenryū-ji fits into a day.
  1. 8:00Arashiyama bamboo groveArashiyama
  2. 9:00Tenryū-jiArashiyama
  3. 11:00Ōkōchi Sansō villaArashiyama
  4. 14:00Togetsukyō Bridge and the riverArashiyama
See all 5 days
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Tenryū-ji questions

Can you walk from Tenryū-ji to the bamboo grove?

Yes. The garden's north exit opens directly onto the bamboo grove path.

Is the Cloud Dragon painting always open?

No. The Hattō hall with the ceiling dragon opens mainly on weekends, holidays and special periods, with a separate ticket.

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Arashiyama bamboo grove
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Ōkōchi Sansō
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Togetsukyō Bridge
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Kiyomizu-dera
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Kōdai-ji
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