Ryōan-ji

Ryōan-ji is located in the northwest of Kyoto. Ryōan-ji is one of the most famous of all rock gardens in Japan. the temple where the garden is was founded in 1450, by a deputy of the Ashikaga shogunate, But the age of the Garden is unknown but is thought to have been made in the late 1400s or early 1500s.

The meaning of the rock garden is unknown with its 15 stones laid out a mysterious manor. The meaning of the garden has been pondered for centuries, some believe that it represents the Japanese kanji character for heart, while others believe that it represents mountains in the sea, but nobody knows what the true meaning is.

The garden is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily from March to November, and is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from December to February daily. It takes around 50 minutes to get to Ryōan-ji by bus from Kyoto Station.