Nanzen-ji Temple

南禅寺

Nanzen-ji is a head temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. It was founded in 1291, when Retired Emperor Kameyama turned his villa into a Zen temple and invited Zen master Mukan Fumon as its founder. At the entrance stands the Sanmon gate, about 22 meters high, rebuilt in 1628. The Hojo (abbot's quarters) is a National Treasure, and the dry landscape garden in front of it, known as "Tiger Cubs Crossing", is said to be the work of Kobori Enshu. The grounds also have a red-brick aqueduct of the canal from Lake Biwa, built between 1885 and 1890.

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Visitor information

Opening hours: March 1 – November 30: 8:40–17:00. December 1 – end of February: 8:40–16:30. Last entry 20 minutes before closing.
Closed: Closed to general visitors December 28–31.
Admission: Fees are charged separately for each area. Hojo Garden: adults 600 yen, high school 500 yen, elementary and junior high 400 yen. Sanmon Gate: same as the Hojo Garden. Nanzen-in: adults 500 yen.
Getting there: Subway Tozai Line: Keage Station, about 10 minutes on foot.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

There are many stairs and slopes on the grounds. Indoor wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Hojo Garden reception.
Eating and drinking on the grounds is not allowed.
No tripods, monopods or model photo shoots.
The area is very crowded in peak tourist seasons; Kyoto City does not recommend the bus then.

Tips for Muslim visitors

You take your shoes off to visit the Hojo garden and the Sanmon gate. The temple gives you a plastic shoe bag, and you take it home with you after your visit.
Japan's national tourism site suggests climbing to the top of the Sanmon gate to see the whole temple grounds, and says you could easily spend a full day here. Plan your prayer times around that.
Kyoto's official tourism site lists a small free prayer room (up to 5 people, no booking needed) at Kyoto International Community House, 2-1 Toriicho, Awataguchi, Sakyo-ku. It is open 9:00–21:00 and closed on Mondays.
Buddhist temples welcome visitors of all faiths. You can enjoy the buildings and gardens without joining any prayer, burning incense or buying charms.
Many halls ask you to take off your shoes. Wear socks and shoes that are easy to slip off, and keep a bag for your shoes if none is provided.
Photography is often not allowed inside halls. Follow the signs and ask staff if you are unsure.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Kyoto and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.