Tenryuji is the most important temple in Arashiyama and one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples, founded in 1339. While its wooden halls have burned and been rebuilt many times, its garden survives from the fourteenth century essentially unchanged — a masterpiece by the monk-designer Muso Soseki. Centred on a pond, it uses the technique of shakkei, ‘borrowed scenery’, drawing the wooded slopes of the Arashiyama hills into the composition so that garden and mountain read as one. It is a World Heritage Site, and its back gate opens directly onto the famous Arashiyama bamboo grove.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Arashiyama, Kyoto |
| Hours | ~8:30–17:00 |
| Admission | Garden ~¥500; buildings extra |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | Autumn colour; fresh spring green |
What to See
- A 14th-century pond garden by Muso Soseki.
- ‘Borrowed scenery’ drawing in the Arashiyama hills.
- The Zen halls and painted dragon ceiling.
- The back gate opening onto the bamboo grove.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Arashiyama bamboo grove at the back gate.
- Pair with the Togetsukyo bridge and riverside.
- Read our Kyoto overview .
Getting There
- By train: Saga-Arashiyama (JR) or Arashiyama (Randen/Hankyu), a short walk.
- On foot: at the heart of the Arashiyama sightseeing area.
Tips
Buy the garden-only ticket unless you specifically want to enter the buildings, as the garden is the real masterpiece and can be enjoyed on its own. Come early to beat the Arashiyama crowds, then exit through the north gate straight into the bamboo grove — a far better route than fighting the crowds at the grove’s main entrance, and an efficient way to combine the two.
