Prince Hotel BlogsDesigned to promote tranquillity and the state of Zen so central to Buddhist philosophy, the gardens of Kyoto are some of the most beautiful in the whole of Japan. The many blooming flowers and rockeries are meticulously designed and are integral to the culture of the country. From small, off the beaten track green spaces to vast swathes of colour, the minimalist sensibilities, soundscapes and sweeping vistas will sweep up guests of the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in the beautiful character of Japan as a whole.
This list of Kyoto gardens encompasses the world famous and the lesser known, providing visitors and guests of the Prince Hotel Ikebukuro with an authentic way to experience Japanese culture. Find inner peace and take a moment to breathe by reflecting in these serene gardens of Kyoto.
Dating back to the Edo Period between the 17th and 19th century, the Imperial Villa was built for rulers and aristocrats of the time. The outbuildings and beautiful array of arranged gardens are located in the western suburbs of the city and are revered across Japan as a site of cultural heritage, as much as they are one of natural beauty.
For lovers of lichen, the Kokedera is home to more than 120 different species of moss, covering its buildings and gardens. The UNESCO World Heritage site is almost a thousand years old and can only be visited with a reservation, which you must make via post. This is because the villa is a Buddhist temple and visitors are required to participate in ceremonies and chanting sessions when they are there. Another prerequisite for a visit to this beautiful garden is the copying of Buddhist scripture, meaning that ritual is tied up with the beauty of this sacred, ancient place.
Guests of Japan resorts will no doubt be having a relaxing experience already, but this Kyoto based temple and garden is the most famous rock garden in Japan. Dating back to 1450, the rock formations and general design meanings are lost to time, meaning that visitors can make their own readings about this minimalist and peaceful space.
Built for shoguns but now open to the public, the Ginkaku-ji Temple is also known as the Silver Pavilion and includes a distinctive cone of sand as its centrepiece before the pavilion. This is thought to symbolise the majesty of Mount Fuji. That’s not the only attraction awaiting visitors from the Prince Hotel,the landscaped garden is often cited as one of the best examples of traditional Japanese design in the country, providing a classic mixture of ponds, rockeries, bridges and moss.
Surrounded by cherry blossom trees that bloom in spring, the Heian Jingu Shrine has an architecturally Chinese inspired bridge and a beautiful pond filled with water lilies and irises in the summer. As mentioned, spring sees the cherry blossoms bloom, meaning that there’s a distinctive character and atmosphere to each season you visit these Heian period inspired gardens.
For fans of the tempura restaurants of Kyoto, a nourishing visit to the Nanzen-ji is also home to the Junsei restaurant, where tofu is the order of the day. If that wasn’t nourishing enough, nothing is quite like setting one’s sights on the Nanzen-Ji temple and its Higashiyama Mountains backdrop. The wooden structures and large gates of the temple’s buildings hold beautiful rock gardens and canopies, beautiful at any time of the year.
The Kinkaku-Ji is the name given to the golden pavilion that was once a retirement home for shoguns. With beautiful gardens reflecting off the surface of its lake, the Kinkau-Ji is teeming with mossy stones, fir and pine trees and much more. Head over on the off-season to enjoy the gardens without distraction.
This 19th century garden was actually inspired as much by Western culture as it was Japanese heritage. The former politician’s garden is home to structures with panelled ceilings and large british-inspired lawns. The tea rooms and serene streams make for more Japanese fare, but it’s the cultural hybridity of the Murin-an that sets it apart from the other gardens on this list.
Named after the river it nestled alongside, this landscaped garden was once the home of 17th Japanese royals. Featured are maple trees, beautiful bridges over ponds and a quiet stillness that makes this garden well worth booking a tour of.
The moated garden and castle of this two ringed castle consists of the Ninomaru Palace and the preceding Honmaru Palace. The gardens scattered across the 68 acre grounds are filled with plum trees and cherry blossoms. The latter are particularly picturesque in the months of April and May, when the blossoms bloom. That being said, like any garden in Japan, different features are accentuated at different times of the year.
As the colours change through autumn, this smaller garden becomes one of the most serene places in Kyoto. The rocks and strolling gardens are open to the public through spring and autumn, otherwise the private gardens are used for Buddhist prayer to the goddess Benzaiten.
Situated in Western Kyoto, the Ninna-ji Temple is the head of the Omuro school of the Shingo Buddhist sect. Dating back to the year 888, the temple that stands today is a reconstruction of the original that dates back to the 17th century. Its two gardens are popular with visitors thanks to its five-floored pagoda and simple rock garden and pond.
The beautiful Hasso Garden of the Tofuku-ji Temple is known for its adherence to the architecture of traditional 8-windowed teahouses. The striking chequered pattern of moss and rocks makes this a revitalising visit in the Higashiyama ward.
The beautiful ripples of the gravel in the rock garden of the Taizo-In Temple is just one of two gardens in this beautiful Buddhist sub-temple in northwest Kyoto. The temple itself dates back to 1404 and the gardens have been maintained here ever since.
Japan is seldom uttered in the same sentence as “cheap”, the country embodying everything from futurism to ancient history. The capital city of Tokyo can be very expensive to enjoy a vacation in if you don’t know how to budget. On the other hand though, returning guests of the Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu will probably know […]