Kyoto · Ukyo · Japan

Ryōan-ji

Religious photo spotgoogle verified

easy

9/10

best: morning

meditative, minimalist, profound

A local would say...

Fifteen stones, and no matter where you stand you can only ever see fourteen — stare long enough and it starts to feel like a riddle about perception.

Home to Japan's most famous rock garden — a flat expanse of raked white gravel with 15 stones arranged in five clusters, of which only 14 are visible from any single angle. The garden is a supreme example of karesansui (dry landscape) design and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kyōyō-chi pond on the grounds is separately beautiful, especially in autumn.

Added by Aiko Tanaka