Location: Kyoto
Top Things to do in Kyoto
10 Gardens in Kyoto That You Shouldn't Miss
The shrines and temples of Kyoto offer a rare link between modern life in the city and its very ancient past. The Shimogamo Shrine dates to the 6th century and seems suspended in time, its serenity and spiritual power still palpable. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, then see the life-sized Thousand Armed Kannon statues of Sanjūsangen-dō. Enjoy traditional geisha performances, then savor a tranquil meal at a restaurant overlooking the Kamo River.
Restaurants in Kyoto
1. Nanzen-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,168 reviews
This Zen Buddhist temple was converted from a former residence of Emperor Kameyama upon his death. The beautiful grounds include several buildings, hiking trails and a classic Zen garden.
Reviewed By ChrisCastellarin - Duncan, Canada
WOW temple and grounds - you even get to climb up STEEP steps into the HUGE entrance gate (shoes off please!) - for a spectacular view of the whole complex. This is you final stop along the Philosopher's Path and there is a taxi stand here with taxis that will whisk you right back into downtown Kyoto, just 5 minutes away! How convenient!
2. Ryogen-in Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
This temple is home to the most famous Zen rock garden in Japan, which has been in existence since the 15th century.
3. Katsura Imperial Villa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 472 reviews
Application in advance is highly recommended. ------------------------------------------------------------------- This beautiful home belonged to members of the Katsura family, one of the Imperial families of Japan. The home displays some very traditional Japanese architecture and landscape design.
Reviewed By hrtraveler
Lovely garden; recommend taking the English language tour(there are several every day) and also recommend applying on line before visiting to make sure you get a place on the tour. Tour was informative, and the gardens are beautiful. Took city bus from Kyoto station, which supplied good information regarding the proper bus stop to exit. And the villa is a short walk from the bus stop.
4. Konchi-in
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By JameAndDare - Woodstock, Canada
We happened upon this temple walking back to the subway from Nanzen-ji and decided to stop because it cost only about 400¥ each to get in. It looked peaceful and something was drawing us here. You follow the path going around the shrine in a circle, starting at a pond with koi fish in it. The gardens all around here are beautiful and the path is clearly marked. Make sure to wear bug spray. We got bit a bunch of times as it was muggy and the vegetation was thick in here. You come to the main shrine and it seems to be very historic. The trees open up to a huge zen garden and we just took off our shoes and sat here enjoying the peace and quiet. There was one other small group of people here at the time who were very quiet and respectful, so we basically had the place to ourselves. We sat for a good 20 minutes.
5. Shosei-en Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 240 reviews
This is the detached garden of Higashi Honganji, which was donated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd shōgun, in 1641. It covers an area of about 33,000 square meters (8 acres) and was designed by Jōzan Ishikawa. The various structures in this garden were destroyed twice by fire in 1858 and 1864 and the present construction took place during the Meiji period. This garden is filled with many kinds of flowers throughout the year, and the colorful scenery is highly appreciated. Currently, Ingetsu-chi Pond in Shōsei-en Garden is undergoing renovation so we lower water levels in the pond from January 1, 2017 to March 25, 2017. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. Shinsetsu-kyō (Snow-capped Bridge) in Shōsei-en Garden is undergoing renovation due to deterioration. The renovation period is March 1, 2017 to the end of October 2017. Please cross Kaitō-rō (Chinese corridor-style Bridge) to get to Shukuen-tei (Tea House). Please watch your step when you pass someone on the bridge. Also, currently we lower water levels in the pond, Ingetsu-chi due to the renovation. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation.
Reviewed By 373mauricew - Melbourne, Australia
We were early for our tea ceremony and decided to take a stroll in the adjacent streets and came across Shosei-en Gardens what an of peace and quiet the entry fee is 500¥ but it's worth it unfortunately I didn't have my DSLR camera and had to use my phones camera which was disappointing as there are so many photo opportunities in the gardens The time we were there there were only about 10 other people there and you have to keep reminding yourself that you're in the center of a city as it's so peaceful, thoroughly worth a visit when you in Kyoto
6. Shisendo Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By Eric_Greeney
The garden of Shisen-do is simply out of this world. I would rank it without hesitation to the top 5 of Kyoto gardens: not only has it an impeccable composition, it is also fundamentally different from the mainstream of karesansui gardens. This is not a rock garden you view from a wooden platform (well, you can do that, too), but a stroll garden you are welcome to walk around in (wearing blue slippers provided for this purpose). The garden design has a Chinese influence to it. The initial view from the temple resembles other zen gardens, but the field next to it is not raked gravel, but brushed sand. The stroll into the garden provides you a view after another, opening ever new perspectives to many parts of the garden, all harmonious and beautiful. In addition to the usual carps, this garden had magnificent butterflies and birds singing making it feel like a part of the surrounding nature. I visited in mid-October, when the Japanese maples had just got a hint of the first autumn color. One hour before the closing time I had the garden all to myself. I took my time, sat under the pergola, breathed in the peace floating all over the place and forgot about the world waiting outside - and took a ton of photos before I left. Shisen-do is a bit away from many more popular attractions, but absolutely worth the effort of getting there. You can take the Eizan electric railway and walk from Ichijoji station. The entrance is small and modest, easy to miss if you are looking for a big fancy gate. If you are in Kyoto for its gardens, this one is truly a must, rivalled only by Murin-an and Obai-in of Daitokuji. I can recommend my late visiting hour for extra serenity, but I have read the temple can also be busy when the season is right.
7. Shugakuin Imperial Villa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 399 reviews
Created as an imperial summer retreat, the garden complex is a fine example of Japanese landscape design.
Reviewed By boabin - Seoul, South Korea
A lot of the reviews do agree that you can get access if you are already in Kyoto, sometimes they have free slots in other tours. This can be fine during low seasons but I think during the cherry blossom and fall it would be best to secure a ticket in advance, just in case. It is free, which is brilliant for anyone wanting to rein in their spending whilst visiting the city. The tour itself is in Japanese, you can pick up a free headset in English at reception to understand the grounds and villa. Each site is numbered, follow those numbers to listen to each track. The views are spectacular and worth seeing. There is a lot of culture artistically embedded throughout the buildings and garden. Truly a national wonder. Obviously the pond is the main highlight and most photographed but don't neglect to look carefully at the doors inside the buildings or the hidden waterfalls.
8. Okochi Sanso Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 618 reviews
Reviewed By khang_lenguyen - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
As one of hundreds of gardens in Kyoto, we easily bypass this wonderful garden. The admission fee of 1000yen is worth for every piece, including the free green-tea cup and one small cake as refresher. The walking path in the garden leads to the top view of the garden, where Mt. Arashi and Mt. Ogura can be observed. Daihi temple can also been seen. The path itself is the great sight. Two paths of beautiful tree side by side the guests will create mysterious atmosphere. On the top of them, colourful leaves are welcoming and reflected by the sunlight. I've just felt that I was walking through some places in dreams. Too beautiful to say about this garden. You should not miss it in autumn!
9. Taizo-in
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Taizo-in Zen Buddhist Temple has been beloved by people for more than 600 years. It showcases a dry landscape garden by Kano Motonobu, a Zen painting "Catching a Catfish with a Gourd", known as "Hyonenzu" and a Japanese botanical pond garden "Yoko-en" with Suikinkutsu, which is an ornament for the garden as well as a music device named after a Japanese musical instrument, Koto. Access BY TRAIN: Take a JR train on Sagano Line. 12min. from Kyoto Station. Please get off at Hanazono Station. 7 minute walk from Hanazono Station. BY BUS: Several buses are available from the major tourist sites in Kyoto. Please get off at either Myoshinji-mae Stop or Myoshinji Kitamon-mae Stop.
Reviewed By Eric_Greeney
Taizo-in is one of the highly rated Kyoto Gardens and righlty so. Taizo-in is one of the many subtemples of Myoshin-ji and easily found close to the south entrance to the complex. The Myoshin-ji compound resembles structurally that of the perhaps more famous Daitoku-ji, both are large areas with stone-paved streets and wider squares between temple halls and subtemples, many of which are not open to public. Taizo-in provides many areas of beauty and has some rare characteristic features: the entrance to the garden area is dominated by a huge cherry tree that must be quite a sight at the cherry blossom season. Unfortunately I visited in October, missing this glory. The raked gravel fields on two sides of the entrance are of different color: the one on the right is of dark ravel rather than the more usual white one. The grooves are wide and deep, the display more dramatic than that of an average karesansui. Deeper in the garden there is a pond and a stream flowing to it. Trees, bushes, water, form a harmonious setting, best viewed from the pergola at the deepest end of the garden. There is also a separate pavilion for enjoying green tea. One of the most beautiful sights during my Kyoto garden tour this time! I almost missed the rock garden behind the temple hall, but it can be seen from the far end of the area available for visitors and is very nice, more of a mainstream karesansui display.
10. Tenjuan Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Reviewed By Eric_Greeney
Right next to Nanzen-ji San-mon gate the Tenju-an (a subtemple of Nanzen-ji) has a beautiful garden with white gravel field viewed from temple platform and also a stroll garden. The view from temple is characterized by a path of diagonally placed square stepping stones and moss. Japanese maples behind the field were about to enter the autumn colour season when I visited and had individual, slightly off-green hues making a beautiful background. The stroll garden is much like a wild forest – its route goes around a beautiful pond and you get also to walk over it using round stepping stones.
