What other travelers are saying about Kennin-ji Temple
This is an awesome Buddhist temple to visit and just sit. The zen garden is very peaceful and the spaces are meditative.
The red shoes you have to wear to see the twin dragons are small. If you are any taller than 1m70 then be prepared to feel weird. Just soak it up as an “experience” 😝
I do recommend you go to the toilet here too. If you have never walked to the loo with bells on your shoes then brace yourselves for the ride.
The old guards wandering around will tell you off if you don’t stick to the rules but they are polite and quite chill for the stickler type.
Incredible temple complex in the heart of Kyoto. They run a special, limited time event called Zen Night Walk Kyoto in the temple which is a most-go if you’re in town. The entire Temple is lighten with beautiful video art effects, sounds and more. Really special setting, highly recommend!
Very nice temple! One of the few we visited where you walk on the wooden floor or tatami mats. There are some nice gardens inside but the main attraction is the big dragon painting on the roof of one of the buildings! It's a bit expensive at 800 yen to enter but really worth it in my opinion!
While exploring the Gion district, I came across this temple, reportedly the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, dating back to around 1200.
A stroll around the public grounds is sufficient to enjoy and beat the summer heat. For more gardens and artworks, you may enter the main hall (with a fee).
Kennin-ji Temple (建仁寺), located in Kyoto, Japan, is one of the most historically significant Zen Buddhist temples in the country and the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto! It is associated with the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Founded in 1202 by the priest Eisai, who is also credited with introducing both Zen Buddhism and green tea to Japan after studying in China.
The temple’s architecture and gardens are classic examples of Zen aesthetics, featuring simplicity, natural materials, and carefully designed spaces that promote meditation and mindfulness.
A must see feature is the Twin Dragons (painted by prominent Japanese painter Koizunni Junsaku) ceiling painting. Drawn with the finest quality ink on traditional Japanese paper. It was painted in the gymnasium of a Hokkaido elementary school and took the artist just under two years to complete.
Highly recommend this peaceful retreat in the bustling Gion District !
