Ryosen-an Temple (龍泉菴) is one of the sub-temples (塔頭:tatchu) of Myoshin-ji (妙心寺) which is located in Hanazono, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the Ryosen-an, is one of the biggest Zen temple in Japan, and it has a total of 48 sub-temples.
Among those sub-temples, only Keishun-in, Taizo-in, and Daishin-in are open to the public on a regular basis.
Ryosen-an Temple is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
It was constructed in the middle of the Muromachi period of 1481 by a high Buddhist monk of the Rinzai Sect, Soryu KEISEN (景川宗隆).
Temple’s Hojo Front Garden is a large dry landscape garden famous for hair moss and white sand.
In addition, about 100 fusuma paintings which were drawn in 1999 by Izuru YURIMOTO (由里本出) are displayed in the Hojo Hall.
History of Ryosen-an
Let’s study the history of this temple with me.
I think that we can enjoy sightseeing of this temple more by learning the history of it. XD
Ryosen-an Temple (龍泉菴) is one of the sub-temples (塔頭:tatchu) of Myoshin-ji (妙心寺) which is located in Hanazono, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
Myoshin-ji is one of the biggest Zen temple in Japan, and it has a total of 48 sub-temples.
It was constructed in the middle of the Muromachi period of 1481 by a high Buddhist monk of the Rinzai Sect, Soryu KEISEN (景川宗隆).
This temple has the oldest history among the sub-temples of Myoshin-ji.
The name of the temple called ‘Ryosen(龍泉)’ has the meaning of Dragon’s fountain.
In the Zen temple (a temple belonging to the Zen sect), Dragon is said to be “guardian of Buddhism” and “god of water”.
About 100 fusuma paintings which were drawn in 1999 by Izuru YURIMOTO (由里本出), a Japanese-style painter born in Kyoto, are displayed in the Hojo Hall.
Information for visitors
It is only open to the public on specific days (not fixed).
■Special admission information (Japanese text only)
Below is the information on the Special admission in the winter of 2019.
Information
Address：49, Hanazono Myoshinjicho, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 616-8035, Japan
Phone ：+81- 75-463-3132
Foundation：1481
Founder：Masamoto HOSOKAWA (細川政元)
Sect：Rinzai Sect (臨済宗)
Principal image：Kannon Bosatsu (観音菩薩)
Open
10:00~16:00
Admission Fee
| Adults | 600 yen |
| Children | 300 yen |
Other information
・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 Ryosen-an
- 山門(San-mon Gate)
- 庫裏*(Kuri:priests’ quarters)*
- 鐘楼*(Shoro:Bell tower)*
- 方丈*(Hojo Hall)*
- 方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
- 書院*(Shoin Hall)*
- 書院前庭*(Shoin Garden)*
- 境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
This mark ‘*‘ is a pay area.
山門(San-mon Gate)
San-mon Gate, at the entrance of an approach to the temple. It was built in the Edo period.
庫裏*(Kuri:priests’ quarters)*
It was built in 1796 of the Edo period.
鐘楼*(Shoro:Bell tower)*
It was built in 1624 – 1644 of the Edo period.
方丈*(Hojo Hall)*
Hojo Hall and grand entrance (the front gate)
It was built in 1848 of the Edo period.
Hojo Hall has a small courtyard.
This is called an “Tsubo-niwa(坪庭)” in Japanese.
It is the fusuma paintings drawn by Izuru YURIMOTO (由里本出).
This building’s Sugito paintings were drawn in the Edo period.
方丈庭園*(Hojo Garden)*
Hojo Front Garden is a large dry landscape garden famous for hair moss and white sand.
書院*(Shoin Hall)*
It was built in 1653 of the Edo period.
書院前庭*(Shoin Garden)*
境内*(Precincts of the temple)*
Right side of the entrance.
This is the monument dedicated to Emperor Hanazono.
He was the founder of Myoshin-ji, the main temple of this temple.
Video of Ryosen-an
Photos of Ryosen-an
Goshuin (red ink stamp) of Ryosen-an
Temple’s Goshuin is “Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu (南無観世音菩薩)” which is the words to pray for the principal image of this temple.
We can get it in the entrance.
How to get to Ryosen-an
Ryosen-an is in the precincts of the Myoshin-ji.
Nearest station is JR Hanazono Station or Randen Kitano Line Myoshin-ji Station.
We can also go by bus from ‘JR Kyoto Station’, ‘Hankyu Kawaramachi Station’, and ‘Keihan Gion-Shijo Station’.
From Osaka 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 Sagano Line.
2.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From Namba 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 Sagano Line.
3.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From Kyoto Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Hanazono Station.
From JR Hanazono Station (on foot)
It’s about 6 minutes (400m) on foot.
From Myoshinji Station (on foot)
It’s about 5 minutes (300m) on foot.
Get on a bus from JR Kyoto Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.26 (Kyoto Sta.[D3]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：26/Bound for Omuro Ninnaji Temple
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D3]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Get on a bus from Kawaramachi Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.10 (Shijo Kawaramachi [A]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：10/Bound for Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Kawaramachi [A]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 43 min
Get on a bus from Gion-Shijo Station
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto City Bus No.10 (Shijo Keihan-mae [C]) and get off Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple).
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：10/Bound for Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae [C]
Alighting bus stop：Myoshinji Kitamon-mae (Myoshinji Temple)
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 40 min
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：about 3,000 yen (20 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：about 2,800 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 : Around the Kyoto Station]*Japanese text only.
Hotel search & reservation
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Have a nice trip!
