Ryoan-ji is the most celebrated garden in Japan. The mysterious rock formations' meaning, the creator, and its history is still unclear until today.
The Zen garden is made up of a rectangular plot of pebbles, with 15 rocks carefully rested and arranged abstractly in small groups over patches of moss, surrounded by earthen wall.
At first glance you will find nothing special about it, but the most incredible feature of the flat garden is in any angle you view it, you can't see all the 15 rocks.
Aside from the rock garden viewing, the temple also offers a spacious park area with pond.
After a nice stroll, visitors can stop by the park restaurant that serves Yodofu (boiled tofu), a specialty in Kyoto.
There is also a nice gift shop where you can buy nice keepsakes.
From JR or Kintetsu "Kyoto station".
Take the city bus 50 to "Ritsumeikan daigaku-mae" stop.
It takes about 7 minutes walk to our temple from the stop.
Due to the crowd, it is best to go to the garden as early as 9 am to fully appreciate the light and shadows of the quiet garden.
It 's open from 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. on the months of March to November; and 8:30.am-4:30p.m. for the months of December to February.
Admission fees ranges from 300 Yen for ages 15 and below, and 500 Yen for adult.