Last updated: August 29, 2026 / Published: January 2021
I think that many people who visit Kyoto go to temples and gardens.
The history of Kyoto is engraved in the temple, Just looking at the garden frees you from the busyness of everyday life. I don’t think I’m the only one who feels refreshed.
Also, in the dry landscape garden in Kyoto, there is a message to the present age left by the person who made the garden.
Sometimes it’s clogged, so if you visit the garden with that kind of trivia. You can also enjoy temples and gardens in a different way.
Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden
Probably the most famous stone garden in Kyoto and popular with foreigners.
It is said that four mysteries are hidden in the stone garden of Ryoanji Temple.
The most famous of these is the 15 stones placed in the stone garden.
No matter what angle you look at the garden, you can not see all 15 stones.
One theory is that the garden shows the teaching that all human beings are imperfect.
Not only the stone garden, but also a wonderful temple, so why not visit it?
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 March 1st to November 30th, 8:00 to 17:00, December 1st to the end of February, 8:30 to 16:30
【Admission fee】Adults: 600 yen / High school students: 500 yen / Junior high and elementary school students: 300 yen
Access
【Access from JR Kyoto Station】City bus (50) Get off at “Ritsumeikan University” 7 minutes walk.
【Access from Kinkakuji Temple】City Bus (59) Get off at “Ryoanji-mae”.
【Access from K’s House Kyoto】Approx. 45 minutes by City Bus #50 from Kyoto Station.
Official Site: Ryoanji
Tofukuji Temple Honbo Garden
Tofukuji Temple is famous for its autumn colors, but the four gardens built around Honbo in the north, south, east, and west have different tastes, and it is a garden with a lot of art that will not make you bored.
In particular, I would like you to see the real thing for the wonderful contrast between the moss and stones in the north garden.
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】
Apr 1 – Nov 13: 9:00 – 16:00 (Reception closes at 16:00 / Gates close at 16:30)
Nov 14 – Dec 6: 9:00 – 16:00 (Tsutenkyo Bridge opens from 8:30)
Dec 7 – Mar 31: 9:00 – 15:30 (Reception closes at 15:30 / Gates close at 16:00)
【Admission fee】
Adults 500 yen, Children 300 yen (Honbo Garden only) *Admission will be revised to 600 yen for adults starting November 1, 2026.
Access
10 minutes walk from JR Tofukuji Station and Keihan “Tofukuji Station”.
Access from K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 15 minutes by train and walking (approx. 20 minutes on foot).
Official Site（Japanese Only）: Tofukuji
Shisen-do
It is a garden that combines elegance in silence, which is recommended for those who want to enjoy the garden in a quiet atmosphere.
It’s fun with the flowers that bloom in each season, but the garden with snow makeup in winter makes you forget the time. Anyway, it is a garden that I would like you to visit if you want to relax without thinking about anything.
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 9:00 to 17:00 (reception ends at 16:45) Closed: May 23 (Jozan-ki memorial service)
【Admission fee】 Adults: 700 yen / High school students: 500 yen / Junior high and elementary school students: 300 yen
Access
From Kyoto Station, take Kyoto city bus (5) get off at “Ichijoji Sagarimatsucho” and walk for 7 minutes.
Access from K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 45 minutes by City Bus #5 from Shichijo Keihan-mae.
Official Site（Japanese Only）：Shisendo
Ohara Sanzenin
A garden where the beauty of moss stands out in the silence of Ohara Beautiful moss and cute Warabe Jizo make you feel like you are in another world.
It takes about an hour by bus from Kyoto Station, but it’s worth the trip.
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 9:00 to 17:00 (November 8:45 – 16:45 (Gates close at 17:15 in November), December to February 9:00 to 16:30)
【Admission fee】
General 700 yen (group 30 or more 600 yen) Junior high school / high school student 400 yen (group 30 or more 300 yen) Elementary school student 150 yen.
Access
From Kyoto Station, get off at Kyoto Bus (17) “Ohara” Bus Stop and walk for 10 minutes.
Access from K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 60 minutes by Kyoto Bus #17 from Kyoto Station or Kawaramachi area.
Official Site：Sanzenin
Nijo Castle Garden
Nijo Castle is known as the place where the Taisei Hokan was repatriated when the Edo Shogunate returned to the imperial court, but despite its vast garden, it has a wonderfully harmonious structure.
If you like a large garden, this is a dynamic garden that you should definitely visit.
Including Ninomaru Garden, which is designated as a national special scenic spot, Honmaru Garden, Seiryu Garden. It is a large garden that takes an hour to walk and walk.
kamo-shichiseki
You can also enjoy tea at Warakuan in Seiryuen.
Warakuan Maeda
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 8: 45-16: 00 (closed at 17:00)
【Admission fee】Castle Admission: Adults 800 yen / Junior high & high school students 400 yen / Elementary school students 300 yen (Castle Admission + Ninomaru Palace: Adults 1,300 yen) *Honmaru Palace is open with advance reservations required (Separate fee: 1,000 yen).
Access
Tozai Subway Line “Nijojo-mae” Station, or City Bus #9, #50 to “Nijojo-mae”
Access from K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 20 minutes by subway (Gojo Station → transfer at Karasuma Oike Station → Nijojo-mae Station).
Official Site：World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle
Sennyuji temple Unryuin
Sennyuji Temple has a connection to the imperial family, but when you walk along the Sennyuji Temple road and go around the main gate, the atmosphere changes completely and you are surrounded by silence. Unryu-in is located in the area of Sennyuji Temple.
Although it is a small garden, you can enjoy the silence of Mt. Tsukiwa, which changes its appearance from season to season.
Open hours・Admission fee
- 【Open Hours】
- Unryu-in: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception closes at 16:30)
- Sennyu-ji Precincts: 9:00 – 16:30 (Mar – Nov) / 9:00 – 16:00 (Dec – Feb)
- Closed: Wednesdays (except in November)
【Admission fee】
Sennyuji admission fee: Adults 500 yen, elementary school students and younger 300 yen
Unryuin admission fee : 400 yen.
Access
From Kyoto Station, take Kyoto city bus (208) and get off at “Sennyuji-michi”, walk for 15 minutes.
From K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 15 minutes by City Bus #208 from Shichijo Keihan-mae (approx. 25 minutes on foot).
Website：Sennyuji
Manshuin
The dry landscape garden of Manshuin, which stands quietly at the foot of the mountain at Ichijoji, is famous for its autumn colors, but the garden has an atmosphere that envelops those who come to silence, and the cultural assets on display are also recommended.
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 9：00～17：00 （16：30 Reception closed）
【Admission fee】 800 yen (flat rate)
Access
From JR Kyoto Station , Take Kyoto city bus (5) get off at “Ichijoji shimizu-cho” bus stop and walk for 20 minutes.
From K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 50 minutes by Keihan Railway and Eizan Railway to Shugakuin Station, followed by a 20-minute walk.
Official Site（No English Page）：Manshuinmonzeki
Entokuin
Entokuin is known to have been built in the place where Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s wife, Nene (Kitanomandokoro) spent his last years, but the north garden relocated from Fushimi Castle is particularly famous and many along with Kodaiji Temple. Is visiting. The romantic atmosphere filled with Hideyoshi’s love for Nene will surely fascinate people.
The north garden is different from other gardens where many large stones are placed, and it is also attractive that it changes its expression in each season.
Open hours・Admission fee
【Open Hours】 10:00～17:00（17:30 Closed）
【Admission fee】 Adult 500yen Junior high and high school students 200yen *Combined ticket for Kodai-ji, Sho Museum, and Entoku-in is available for 900 yen.
Access
Approx. 5-minute walk from City Bus stop “Higashiyama Yasui”
From K’s House Kyoto: Approx. 15 minutes by City Bus #206 from Shichijo Keihan-mae (approx. 25 minutes on foot).
Official Site：Entoku-in
