Gardens of Japan
Ongoing project capturing the beauty of the gardens of Japan
![One of the most famous dry gardens (karesansui) in Japan. This image only shows a portion of the garden but there are 15 rocks among the gravel. It has been constructed in such a way that, from ground level, one cannot see all 15 from one location. Ryõan-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/c6e1a63fb0b7464ab5444abc13aeba5c/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/1_0_63_1ryouan_ji.jpg)
Ryõan-ji
One of the most famous dry gardens (karesansui) in Japan. This image only shows a portion of the garden but there are 15 rocks among the gravel. It has been constructed in such a way that, from ground level, one cannot see all 15 from one location.
![Detail from a subtemple on Mount Koya (Kõya-san), a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wakayama. Kõyasan](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/dc1ea606920446d794228f2bf4cd88b1/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/8_0_58_1koyasan.jpg)
Kõyasan
Detail from a subtemple on Mount Koya (Kõya-san), a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wakayama.
![Nestled within the garden sits the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/d57fa121c87b446286717eb0cb9fd1c5/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/5_0_57_1kinkaku_ji.jpg)
Kinkaku-ji
Nestled within the garden sits the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto.
![One of the many gardens of Nanzen-ji temple. Nanzen-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a7d10834390b4716810e6f52974afc3b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/6_0_60_1nanzen_ji_moss.jpg)
Nanzen-ji
One of the many gardens of Nanzen-ji temple.
![Tenjū-an is one of the often overlooked sub-temples of Nanzen-ji. Tenjū-an](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a2e6bae7823a4c20a0909b3181e4d72a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/13_0_67_1tenjuuan_bridge.jpg)
Tenjū-an
Tenjū-an is one of the often overlooked sub-temples of Nanzen-ji.
![Also found just off the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto. Eikan-dõ](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/b19280045544465392cabbb431be858d/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Eikando-%25281%2529.jpg)
Eikan-dõ
Also found just off the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto.
![Another often overlooked temple and garden along the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto. Hõnen-in](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/d4cf366d52574e82ab3ca04033e773e5/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Hounen-in.jpg)
Hõnen-in
Another often overlooked temple and garden along the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto.
![Starting at the head (or the tail) of the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto sits the precincts of the Silver Pavilion. Ginkaku-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a43c85347e9c4055bbde59c4a08b2e76/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/4_0_54_1ginkakuji.jpg)
Ginkaku-ji
Starting at the head (or the tail) of the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto sits the precincts of the Silver Pavilion.
![There are four gardens at Tõfuku-ji in northern Kyoto. This moss garden is the north garden. Tõfuku-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a1d281c5417c4b5d810b5b453425f53b/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/2_0_68_1tofuku_ji_n_garden01.jpg)
Tõfuku-ji
There are four gardens at Tõfuku-ji in northern Kyoto. This moss garden is the north garden.
![The West garden Tõfuku-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a5808386879144458eca6c995681781a/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/3_0_69_1toufukuji_08_2009_015.jpg)
Tõfuku-ji
The West garden
![Another of the dry gardens within Tõfuku-ji. Ryõgin-an](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/cb969b122ecf4475a1ea4002bee36be4/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Reiunin_08_2009_006.jpg)
Ryõgin-an
Another of the dry gardens within Tõfuku-ji.
![Nijõ castle was built in the 17th Century by the ruling Tokugawa shogunate. Nijõ-jõ](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/f8a69965878a4ed4a2d77fca022f9d31/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Nijo-008.jpg)
Nijõ-jõ
Nijõ castle was built in the 17th Century by the ruling Tokugawa shogunate.
![Located in the western district of Arashiyama. A UNESCO World Heritage site. Tenryū-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/d75784970ba6492f83fb3291fe758095/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Tenryuji-006.jpg)
Tenryū-ji
Located in the western district of Arashiyama. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
![Located in the western district of Arashiyama within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tenryū-ji. This style of garden is referred to as "shakkei" or borrowing of the surrounding landscape. Sõgen Pond](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/f37272713e5f45578bfcdd8735c028d0/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Tenryuji-001.jpg)
Sõgen Pond
Located in the western district of Arashiyama within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tenryū-ji. This style of garden is referred to as "shakkei" or borrowing of the surrounding landscape.
![Well off the beaten track in northern Higashiyama is Shisen-dõ and its pleasant karesansui (dry garden). Shisen-dõ](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/f1b95539770a43c7b791390a0f7c4fb1/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Shisen-dou-009.jpg)
Shisen-dõ
Well off the beaten track in northern Higashiyama is Shisen-dõ and its pleasant karesansui (dry garden).
![The most famous of the moss gardens in Kyoto is Saihõ-ji (Kokedera) but if you decide that pre-booking your visiting time is too much hassle, the lesser known Giõ-ji is highly recommended. Giō-ji](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/effdc1fb371b4de6a9219426d637e1ed/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Giou-ji-015.jpg)
Giō-ji
The most famous of the moss gardens in Kyoto is Saihõ-ji (Kokedera) but if you decide that pre-booking your visiting time is too much hassle, the lesser known Giõ-ji is highly recommended.
![High above Kyoto, Yoshimine-dera has been keeping watch over the old capital for 1000 years. Yoshimine-dera](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/a3f37649e3f34a0e9742eedaaba7de01/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Yoshimine-dera.jpg)
Yoshimine-dera
High above Kyoto, Yoshimine-dera has been keeping watch over the old capital for 1000 years.
![Subtemple of Myōshin-ji, which was founded in 1404. Kyoto. Taizō-in](https://static.livebooks.com/bfe66a41f0ff40e283dca7e69e0e91ce/i/b7087949c4474d6eb7aade6fb387cd51/1/4SoifmQp7LJ6yDtMmqbdE/Myoushin-ji.jpg)
Taizō-in
Subtemple of Myōshin-ji, which was founded in 1404. Kyoto.