Exploring Kyoto - Tenryuji Temple & Grounds

After yesterday's post on my visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine I also wanted to share some photos from a day I spent in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. This area is highly regarded for the Bamboo Forest, a few photos of which I might upload tomorrow, but only a few steps away is Tenryuji Temple and the beautiful temple that surrounds it.

Ranked first amongst the city's five great Zen temples, this building was built in 1339 and features the original garden created by famous garden designer Muso Soseki. Although it was raining slightly it seemed to add to the beauty of the garden. A central pond is surrounded by rocks, as well as the pine trees and the Arashiyama mountains behind. I personally think this is the most impressive thing about this temple, how the garden itself feels like it's part of the backdrop. I think this is quite rare as you can often see the distinction between the two.

Anyway, here are a few photos from my trip to Tenryuji Temple. I hope the photos here give you an idea of the atmosphere of this place and some of the details that I was able to capture in the garden. Enjoy.