Sign in for a personalized experience.
Travel
Living
A-Z
Forum
Friends
Jobs
Shopping
Hotel Reservations

(check-in)

Online Hostel Bookings
Hostels and inexpensive ryokan from $10 per night!
Car Rentals
Compact cars from around 4,000 Yen/day!

Related Pages
Travel
Sightseeing
Kansai Region
Kyoto

Buddhism
Temples
Gardens
UNESCO World Heritage

Kyoto: Access and Orientation

Related Questions
Ryoanji temple renovations?
 5 reactions, last updated 114 days ago
Kurama Worth It?
 3 reactions, last updated 15 days ago
Opening dates White study room...
 1 reaction, last updated 20 days ago
3day itinerary for Kyoto
 4 reactions, last updated 21 days ago
Getting around Kyoto
 6 reactions, last updated 21 days ago
Tour Kyoto or just walk?
 3 reactions, last updated 21 days ago
Taxi from Kyoto Station to...
 2 reactions, last updated 26 days ago
Gingakuji reconstruction
 3 reactions, last updated 33 days ago
Travelling to Kyoto and back to...
 4 reactions, last updated 33 days ago
Arashiyama on Sunday 4 Apr
 1 reaction, last updated 35 days ago

Japan Sightseeing Guide
Hokkaido
Sapporo
Otaru
Hakodate
Furano
Abashiri
Noboribetsu
Niseko
Lake Toya
Daisetsuzan
Shiretoko
Rishiri Rebun
Akan

Tohoku
Sendai
Matsushima
Hiraizumi
Akita
Kakunodate
Nyuto Onsen
Aomori
Hirosaki
Lake Towada
Shimokita Hanto
Dewa Sanzan
Aizu

Kanto
Tokyo
Yokohama
Kamakura
Nikko
Kinugawa
Hakone
Kawagoe
Kusatsu
Ikaho
Minakami
Narita

Chubu
Nagoya
Inuyama
Mt.Fuji
Fujigoko
Izu Peninsula
Nagano
Matsumoto
Kamikochi
Kiso Valley
Hakuba
Yamanouchi
Sado Island
Takayama
Okuhida
Shirakawa-go
Gujo
Gero Onsen
Kanazawa
Noto Peninsula

Kansai
Kyoto
Osaka
Nara
Kobe
Himeji
Kinosaki
Mount Koya
Kumano
Asuka
Yoshino
Amanohashidate
Hikone
Iga Ueno
Ise Shima

Chugoku
Hiroshima
Miyajima
Onomichi
Okayama
Kurashiki
Matsue
Iwami Ginzan
Iwakuni
Yamaguchi
Hagi

Shikoku
Takamatsu
Kotohira
Naoshima
Matsuyama
Uchiko
Kochi
Tokushima
Naruto

Kyushu
Fukuoka
Dazaifu
Nagasaki
Kumamoto
Mount Aso
Minamata
Beppu
Miyazaki
Takachiho
Kagoshima
Kirishima
Yakushima

Okinawa
Honto
Miyako
Yaeyama

Survey
Which is your favorite travel guide book on Japan?
Lonely Planet Japan
Rough Guides Japan
Fodor's Japan
Frommer's Japan
Gateway to Japan
Let's Go Japan
Eyewitness Travel Japan
Michelin Japan
Other
see results
Other Surveys:
How to improve tourism
Next trip to Japan
Ski Destination
Budget for ryokan stay
Preferred way to stay at a ryokan
Purpose of visit
Most popular region
Have you recently entered Japan?

japan-guide.com newsletter
Keeping you up to date on Japan travel and living related issues and site updates. Click here to subscribe!

Sponsored Listings
Car Rental
The cheapest rates in Japan!
Tour Packages
Guided and individual tour plans.
Japan - Order FREE Brochure!
About vacation plans and specialty travel.

Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kansai - Kyoto
Ryoanji Temple
# 9   of 46 sights
in Kyoto

Ryoanji is a Zen temple in northwestern Kyoto.

The temple's main attraction is its rock garden, the most famous of its kind in Japan. The simple Zen garden consist of nothing but rocks, moss and neatly raked gravel. The meaning of the garden's arrangement is unknown and up to each visitor's interpretation.

Construction Notice: Ryoanji is closed to the public from January 5 to February 25, 2010 due to renovation works.

Before renovation
During renovation (October 23, 2009)

How to get there
Ryoanji is a 5 minute bus ride or 15 minute walk west of Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion.

Ryoanji can also be reached by the Keifuku Kitano Line, a small train that runs through the calm residential areas of northwestern Kyoto and offers a connection to Arashiyama. To access Ryoanji, get off at Ryoanji-michi Station from where it is a 5 minute walk to the temple.

How to get to and around Kyoto

Hours and Fees
Hours:8:00 to 17:00 (8:30 to 16:30 from December through February)
Closed:No closing dates (January 5 to February 25, 2010 for renovation)
Admission:500 yen

News and Reports
Kyoto Autumn Color Report
November 26, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report: Light Up
November 25, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report: Ohara
November 22, 2009
Kyoto Autumn Color Report
November 21, 2009
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

Travel Community
Popularity of Ryoanji Temple:
Users who have been to Kyoto: 2237
Users who have been to Ryoanji Temple: 554

9th of 46 most visited sights in Kyoto.
39th of 589 most visited sights nationwide.

Have you been to Ryoanji Temple?

Ratings for Ryoanji Temple:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  outstanding  
User Rating (by 318 users):
86/100
  recommended

User Feedback
We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

Advertisements

Hotel and Ryokan
Sponsored Listings:
Guest Inn Chita
A small traditional inn run by a very kind staff. From 3500yen per guest. 10 min from Kyoto Station. Renewed in 2006.
Search Hotels:
In:
From:
For:
Website:

Tours and Packages
Kyoto Winter Special 2010
Dine in the company of geisha, uncover hidden cultural artifacts, or stroll through the lights of Arashiyama with these tours.
Kyoto Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Kyoto and surroundings.

English Links
Ryoanji
Official English website.

Japanese Links
Ryoanji
Official website.

54 users are currently online: Smetana, shinya jp, Sarah55, LittleDolls, jocayo, UmiTorukojin, NezumiTakenouchi, Tsurom, kikyo87, jomi, conors, megx3, SemiJoshu, moujunjun, harman, Magdalenah, cookie es bonita, Amber Dawn, manuelsan, Ossy, alecia, Messij, andryu89, Uji, Decanfall, chetire, Volpi, mcgurisoff, Niimi, ninjasama, Bryan Ng, LinYumi, sjen, Mio1987, eerikki, joe0, Miyabina, Julia1, GameAngel64, patti san, yannika, Taku30, dainyDaine, RobBeer, BobbyEGlavinic, cridia, aleparraga, claudia182, Annikki, Rosario68, Uiriamu, Soulja girl, AyakoIto, Rewritten
Sign in for a personalized experience.
 
Copyright © 1996-2010 japan-guide.com All rights reserved - Last Page Update: January 4, 2010
home - site map - privacy policy - terms of use - contact - L‚ɂ‚¢‚Ä - advertising