Ryogin-an (龍吟庵) is a temple of the Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, and is one of a tatchu (sub-temple) of Tofuku-ji.
Tofuku-ji is the fourth grade of Kyoto Gozan (Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto), and it has a total of 25 sub-temples.
Ryogin-an has the highest rank of these sub-temples of Tofuku-ji.
It is only open to the public on specific days.
History of Ryogin-an
Let’s study the history of this sub-temple with me before introducing of Ryogin-an (龍吟庵).
I think that we can enjoy the sightseeing of this sub-temple more by learning the history of it. XD
It was founded in 1291 of the Kamakura period by Fumon MUKAN (無関普門) who was the third chief priest of Tofuku-ji.
His posthumous Buddhist name is Daimyo Kokushi (大明国師) .
He was one of the most famous Buddhist priests among Zen priests of the Rinzai sect in the Kamakura period.
He was born in Shinano Province and became a priest at 13 years old, and studied overseas (in China) for the 10 years since 1251, for Zen study.
After he came back to Japan in 1281, he became the chief priest of Tofuku-ji.
And he built a house on the precincts of Tofuku-ji and lived there.
This house is the origin of Ryogin-an.
About Ryogin-an
Information
Address：15-812, Hommachi, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
Phone number：+81-75-561-0087
Foundation：1291
Founder：Fumon MUKAN (無関普門)
Sect：Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect
Principal image：Daimyo Kokushi (大明国師)
Open
9:00 ~ 16:00
Admission fee
| Adults | 500 yen |
| Elementary / Junior high students | 300 yen |
Other information
・It is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
・Please ask temple’s staff where you can take photos and videos.
・Worship method of a shinto shrine and a buddhist temple, please refer to the following article.
Next, Let’s go to see highlights of this temple with me!
Highlights of Ryogin-an
- 偃月橋 (重要文化財):Engetsu-kyo bridge (Important cultural property)
- 表門 (重要文化財):Omote-mon gate (Important cultural property)
- 方丈 (国宝)*:Hojo (National treasure)*
- 無の庭(南庭)*:Garden of Empty (South garden)*
- 龍の庭(西庭)*:Garden of Dragon (West garden)*
- 不離の庭(東庭)*:Hanarezu-no-niwa Garden (East garden)*
- 開山堂*:Kaisan-do*
- 庫裏 (重要文化財)*:Kuri (Important cultural property)*
This mark ‘*‘ is a pay area.
偃月橋 (重要文化財):Engetsu-kyo bridge (Important cultural property)
Engetsu-kyo bridge was built in 1603 of the Azuchi–Momoyama period and is designated as an important cultural property.
It is selected as one of the Japanese best 100 Bridge.
表門 (重要文化財):Omote-mon gate (Important cultural property)
Omote-mon gate was built in the Azuchi–Momoyama period and is designated as an important cultural property.
方丈 (国宝)*:Hojo (National treasure)*
Hojo was built in 1387 of the Muromachi period and is designated as a national treasure.
It is said that it is the oldest building of Hojo architecture in Japan.
無の庭(南庭)*:Garden of Empty (South garden)*
This is the south garden, popular name is ‘Mu-no-niwa garden (Garden of Vanity).’
Because this garden expresses ‘Empty (無)’, one of a state of the Zen, there are no trees, plants and rocks in this garden.
龍の庭(西庭)*:Garden of Dragon (West garden)*
This is the west garden, popular name is ‘Garden of Dragon.’
Three stones in the center of this garden express the head and angle of dragon.
不離の庭(東庭)*:Hanarezu-no-niwa Garden (East garden)*
This is the east garden, popular name is ‘Hanarezu-no-niwa Garden.’
This garden is covered with red sand.
Central stone expresses Fumon MUKAN (無関普門) who was the founder of this temple.
開山堂*:Kaisan-do*
There is Kaisan-do in the backside of Hojo.
Statue of Daimyo Kokushi (大明国師) is enshrined in this building.
(Photography and video recording are prohibited.)
庫裏 (重要文化財)*:Kuri (Important cultural property)*
Kuri was built in 1603 of the Azuchi–Momoyama period and is designated as an important cultural property.
It has the role as a priest’s living quarters or the kitchen of a temple.
Photos of Ryogin-an
Video of Ryogin-an
Goshuin (red ink stamp) of Ryogin-an
Goshuin of this temple is “Shobogenzo (正法眼蔵).”
It is the name of the zen book which was written by Dogen (道元).
We can get it in the reception desk of entrance. (300 yen)
How to get to Ryogin-an
Nearest station is JR/Keihan Tofuku-ji Station.
We can also go by bus from ‘Kyoto Station’, ‘Kyoto Kawaramachi Station’, and ‘Keihan Gion-Shijo Station’.
From Osaka Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station and change to the JR Nara Line.
2.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.
From Namba Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from Namba Station to Umeda Station and change to the JR Kyoto Line.
2.Get on the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station and change to the JR Nara Line.
3.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.
From Kyoto Sta. to Tofukuji Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station.
From Tofuku-ji Station (on foot)
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It’s about 15 minutes (700m) on foot.
From Kyoto Sta. (by bus)
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.208 from Kyoto Sta.[D2] bus stop and get off Tofukuji (Tofukuji Temple) bus stop.
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：208/Bound for Tofukuji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 16 min
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.South-5 from Kyoto Sta.[C4] bus stop and get off Tofukuji-michi bus stop.
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：South-5/Bound for Takeda Sta. Via Inari-taisha Shrine
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[C4]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji-michi
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 11 min
From Kyoto Kawaramachi Sta. (by bus)
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.207 from Shijo Kawaramachi [E] bus stop and get off Tofukuji (Tofukuji Temple) bus stop.
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：207/Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Kawaramachi [E]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 20 min
From Gion-shijo Sta. (by bus)
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.207 from Shijo Keihan-mae [2] bus stop and get off Tofukuji (Tofukuji Temple) bus stop.
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：207/Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae[2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofukuji
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 18 min
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：about 1,500 yen (10 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：about 1,700 yen (15 minutes)
・Let’s show a taxi driver the following phrase.
・If you want to call a taxi, let’s show the following phrase.
Phone number of taxi dispatch (Kyoto Station)
Hotel search & reservation around Ryogin-an
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip!
