The main Zen garden here is one of Kyoto's finest, a 14th-century masterpiece that borrows the Arashiyama mountains as its backdrop in a technique called shakkei — 'borrowed scenery.' The reflected peaks in the pond create a composition where art and nature become indistinguishable. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major Rinzai school temple, but the garden transcends religious category — it's simply one of the most beautiful things humans have arranged. Visit early morning or on a weekday if you want to appreciate it without elbows in your peripheral vision.