Day 6 in Nara: New Miyako Hotel, A review - Heian Jingu Shrine and Garden - NANZEN-JI TEMPLE AND GROUNDS - Nijojyo Castle - Golden Pavilion Temple


Wooded temple buildings peeped out from a cloak of greens...
Forested mountains stood guard behind and the clear blue skies looked on.
Standing fixed,
I moved my eyes and took a panoramic view of the complete scenery,
Nature was at it's best here.

View from Nanzen-ji terrace

The Nanzen-ji Temple and Grounds

Walking further from the gardens of the Heian Jingu shrine, we reached the Nanzenji temple – one of the most prominent zen temples in all of Japan. A huge Sanmon gate greeted us at the entrance, it’s magnanimity - a soft reflection of the grandiosity that we were to view inside.
Massive two storey high Sanmon gate at the Nanzen-ji Temple

The gate makes way to the grounds inside which are large and spacious, including an array of 12 subtemples and a few Zen gardens which makes it quite difficult to explore everything on foot for an average traveler who is generally short on time.

Narrow pathway fenced by trees and shrubs on both the sides with the Nanzen-ji temple standing in the centre.

The Nanzen-ji temple

Once a retirement villa of an emperor, the Nanzenji temple was impressive but the main highlight for me, surprisingly, was not the temple but something else.

It was the Sanmon gate terrace views! Even though climbing to the terrace requires you to pocket out a fee of 500 Yen, do not think twice about it. Just go! We had contemplated about skipping this one but a little coaxing from our friend, stardust and a few minutes of stepping and sightseeing was all it took for us to realize that the steep climb to the Sanmon terrace had been totally worth it!

The terrace verandah of the Sanmon gate


As you stand in it’s verandah with the cool breeze blowing, it is a wonderful feeling how the large grounds of the temple or rather the entire city of Kyoto suddenly seems to come within your reach. All the numerous temples, shrines and gardens neatly nestled in the forested cluster of trees, the slopes of Higashiyama mountains, the clear blue skies stretching far and wide – everything is simply an eye-sight away and looks incredible from every and any angle that you see.

The Sanmon gate terrace views

Besides this, the floor also houses a small dark room which holds a few images of Buddha and some amazing art work of young women and phoenixes on display.

Adjoining the temple, is the beautiful and sombre Hojo garden, also known as the Tiger and Cubs Zen Garden, with specific rock formations and patterns (the tigers and the cubs) all surrounded by pure and neatly decorated white sand (a stream).

The Hojo zen garden

The most striking feature of these gardens is that it shows you beauty from the other side of the coin - beauty that lies in remote barrenness, in the emptiness that one can sense in the rocks, the stones, even the shrubs - beauty that we often tend to miss out on.

The stone and sand patterns in the Hojo zen garden

In them hide embedded messages... that nudge us to delve within ourselves and understand the true ways of life and living. Surrounding the garden are rooms or Abbot's quarters decorated with impressive paintings and other artifacts neatly preserved and dating back to the 16th century.

A few meters ahead of the hojo, also on the Nanzenji grounds, is a long roman style aqueduct which is part of the Lake Biwa Canal constructed in 1890.

The roman style aqueduct

This aqueduct is historic, supplying water from the Biwa lake to Kyoto for more than 100 years but what makes it memorable for me, today, is the reminder of the humble lunch that we had in it's cool shade... of those few peaceful moments that we spent in each other's company, talking in hushed tones and soft smiles while also relishing the beauty found in simplicity... simplicity of food, thoughts and surroundings.

How to reach Nanzen-ji Temple:

Approximately 20 minute walk from the Heain Jingu Shrine.

Timings, Admission fee, Tips, etc.:

 Timings: The temple grounds remain open till 5 PM. (might change during certain festivals and seasons)

 Charges: There is a fee of 500 Yen for admission to various parts of the temples like Sanmon and the Hojo garden. The Aqueduct is free.

Tip: Do not miss the Sanmon terrace views.

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.
2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan
3. Entire Day 1 of Japan (includes Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo, Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember)
4. Entire Day 2 of Japan (includes SensoJi temple: Asakusa - Tokyo, Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo, Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo, A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens, Imperial Palace and East Gardens, The Tokyo Tower, Japan)
8. Where to stay in Kyoto: New Miyako Hotel
9. Heian Jingu Shrine and Garden, Kyoto