Tenjuan Temple — Attraction in Kyoto

(Trip was made back then on 17 Nov 2022)

It comes as no surprise that Kyoto is famed for having numerous spectacular autumn foliage sites. Even Tenjuan Temple, a sub-temple within the famous Nanzen-ji complex, conceals picturesque autumn views behind it’s humble walls

Our visit on 17 Nov 2022, was truly an unforgettable experience. The temple was absolutely stunning, with its beautifully maintained gardens that shine brightest in the autumn season. The vibrant reds, oranges, and golds of the leaves created a mesmerizing atmosphere that felt almost magical.

In spite of the compound’s relatively small size, amazingly there were numerous scenic spots where one could get lost in and lose track of time from taking in the amazing views.

The Hojo garden, with its peaceful pond and surrounding trees, offered an incredible spot to take in the breathtaking colors.

It was actually quite crowded even though we came on a weekday. But considering it’s the peak autumn period and a popular autumn site, the large crowd should have...

Although most people go there for the fall colors, I visited during the spring of 2018. It was a rainy day, but that only added to the marvelous atmosphere of this place. And there hardly any other visitors in the late afternoon. The Nanzenji complex has many places to visit, but I really recommend Tenju-an Temple. The two ponds, in particular, are beautifully landscaped, with stone lanterns, lily pads and moss all adding to the beauty. The raked sand rock garden is also notable, but the lush landscape around the ponds is the main attraction for me. The temple has a very interesting history - it's the burial place of one of Japan's " "great unifiers" named Hosokawa Fujitaka - but I didn't have time to tour the...

Garden was sublime. Much beauty and delight packed into each twist and turn of the path. Because the garden is small, it can feel crowded along the paths even with fewer visitors. One point of confusion - our elementary aged child was charged admissions despite the sign in English indicating that only adults, high school, and junior high students are charged fees. Upon research later on, I came across info indicating that elementary school aged children are also charged. If so, the English on the admissions sign should be corrected...