Kinkaku-ji is registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.  The garden and buildings, centres on the Golden Pavilion, which represents the “pure land” of Buddha in this world.  The main… Continue Reading

Tenryu-ji was once Kyoto’s leading Zen temple, with extensive grounds and 150 sub temples. It dominated the Arashiyama district where the aristocracy went on leisure outings. Ravaged by fire on… Continue Reading

Nanzen-ji’s spacious grounds are located at the base of Kyoto’s Higashiyama Mountains and is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan. It’s the head temple of one of… Continue Reading

Garden of Suzaku, Umekoji Park (Suzaku-no-Niwa) was built in commemoration of the 1,200th anniversary of establishment of Heian-kyo, the capital of the Heian era.   It features landscaping techniques and methods… Continue Reading

Kouun-ji is a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji, near the south end of the Philosopher’s path.  Founded in 1212 in Osaka, it moved to Kyoto in 1661. The temple used to be… Continue Reading

Wachu-an was built by Hikoshiro Fujii (1876-1956), a textiles business tycoon. It was designed with rich taste and a deep understanding of Japanese culture in mind.  The mansion came into… Continue Reading

Nishimura Shinto Priests’ House & Garden.  The Nishimura Family is a line of Shinto priests that served Kamigamo Shrine for over two thousand years. Three hundred and fifty years ago,… Continue Reading

Kamigamo Shrine is an important Shinto sanctuary on the banks of the Kamo River in north Kyoto, first founded in 678. It’s one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan… Continue Reading

Above: Pyracantha sp.