Kyoto - Ryoan-ji Temple

The Ryoanji Temple stands in the north part of the city. It was founded in 1473 and belongs to the Rinzai sect. It is particularly worth a visit on account of its Zen stone garden, which is renowned far beyond the confines of Kyoto as a place for meditation. The patterning created by the groups of rocks of various sizes is conducive to meditation of every kind. The rocks which are placed on smooth raked expanses of ground could, for instance, be mountains emerging from the clouds, islands in the sea or elements of a picture.