Tōfuku-ji

One of the Five Great Zen Temples in Kyoto, Tōfuku-ji is a sprawling complex with twenty-four sub-temples, though only a few are open to the public.  The great thing about visiting Tōfuku-ji is that in one place you can experience several different styles of traditional gardens, including some more modern ones done by the famous designer Shigemori Mirei (1896–1975).  Around the Abbot’s Quarters you’ll find Zen-style karesansui (dry landscape) gardens, one of which recreates a constellation and another which has a moss checkerboard pattern.  The raised Tsuten-kyō bridge crosses a strolling garden of maples, and the Founder’s Hall features a garden that borrows from the surrounding landscape.  A leisurely trip around this temple will definitely start your garden day off right!

Murin-an

Designed by the acclaimed Ogawa Jihei, the sprawling garden of Murin-an is a strolling type garden incorporating the Higashiyama mountain range as shakkei (borrowed scenery) to make it seem larger than its walled area.   A western-style building on the property is also the sight of important historical meetings held by the garden’s original owner.  Divided by a meandering stream and hiding a waterfall as well as a teahouse amidst the trees, this garden is a wonderful place to relax whether you do so from the Japanese-style villa or by taking a leisurely walk.  Thanks to its location there are also lots of restaurants in the area where you can grab lunch before heading to your next stop.

Shisen-dō

The former hermitage of a samurai, Shisen-dō is particularly famous for its garden, which can be enjoyed both as a framed view from a seat on the temple’s tatami mats or by descending a few stairs and taking a walk through the split-level paths around a small pond.  With a backdrop of maple trees, the garden is just as famous in autumn as it is when the azaleas bloom in late spring. The sound of the tsukubai bamboo water fixture thunking steadily as it fills, spills, and refills only adds to the feeling of the hermitage where you can steal a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Ganko Sushi Nijō-en

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite touring some of Kyoto’s magnificent gardens, it’s time for dinner- and if you’d still like to keep your day green, why not head over to the Nijō location of the popular sushi and tempura restaurant Ganko?  Featuring the Takase River Nijō Garden on its property, once owned and designed by the same two who created Murin-an, you can not only relax over some delicious food but later take a stroll through the garden, illuminated at night to let guests enjoy its winding paths, elegant stone work, and koi-filled pond.

Note: The menu may change depending on the season.