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most visited sights
# 19   of 46 sights
in Kyoto
 
Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kyoto
Nanzenji Temple
 
basic information

Nanzenji is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto's eastern hills. As head temple of the Rinzai sect's Nanzenji school of Zen Buddhism, it is one of Japan's most important Zen temples.

Nanzenji was first built as an imperial villa in 1264, and became a temple in 1291. Its main building, the Seiryo-den, is famous for a beautiful rock garden and sliding doors (fusuma), which are decorated by paintings of the Kano School.

The temple's large entrance gate, completed in 1628, is called Sanmon. Several subtemples and a water aqueduct, which is part of the Lake Biwa Canal dating from 1890, can be found in the vicinity of Nanzenji's main buildings.

Among the subtemples open to the public are Nanzenin, directly behind the water aqueduct, whose small but pretty garden is particularly spectacular with autumn leaves (usually best in the second half of November), and the scarcely visited Konchiin, standing southwest of the Sanmon gate.

Garden of Nanzenin
Konchiin

Any advice or questions? Voice them in the forum!

how to get there

Nanzenji can be reached by bus number 5 from Kyoto Station. Alternatively, take the subway Tozai Line to Keage Station (transfer from Karasuma Line at Karasuma Oike Station) from where the temple can be reached in a 10 minute walk.

Nanzenji is also a good starting or end point for a walk along the Path of Philosophy to/from Ginkakuji.

How to get to and around Kyoto

hours and fees

Hours:8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December through February)
Closed:December 28 to 31
Admission:500 yen (Nanzenji), 500 yen (Sanmon), 300 yen (Nanzenin)

news and reports

Kyoto Autumn Color Report: Arashiyama
November 19, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report: Higashiyama
November 18, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report: Kurama
November 16, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report
November 12, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
April 15, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
April 12, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
April 7, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
April 4, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
April 1, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
March 30, 2009
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report
March 25, 2009

travel community

Popularity of Nanzenji Temple:
Users who have been to Kyoto: 1959
Users who have been to Nanzenji Temple: 272

19th of 46 most visited sights in Kyoto.
81st of 554 most visited sights nationwide.

Have you been to Nanzenji Temple?

Ratings for Nanzenji Temple:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  outstanding  
User Rating (by 155 users):
81/100
  recommended

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hotels & ryokan

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tours and packages

Kyoto Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Kyoto and surroundings.

english links

Nanzen-ji Zen Temple
Official English website.

japanese links

Nanzen-ji
Official website.

 

 
December 6, 2008  
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