Note: This is a provisional (unofficial) English translation of the Japanese page published on our Japanese site (Japanese original). The Japanese original takes precedence. The translation may be revised without notice.
Daiunzan Ryoanji (大雲山 龍安寺) is a temple in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. This article gives an overview of its sect, principal image, history, and access.
Basic information
| Temple name | Daiunzan Ryoanji (大雲山 龍安寺) |
|---|---|
| Mountain name (sangō) | Daiunzan |
| Sect | Rinzai, Myoshinji branch (臨済宗妙心寺派) |
| Principal image (honzon) | Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Tathagata, 釈迦如来) |
| Address | Ryoanji Goryoshita-chō 13, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
History
- 983 (Eikan 1): Enyū-ji (円融寺), a prayer temple (gogansho-ji) of Emperor Enyū (円融天皇), was founded.
- 1450 (Hōtoku 2): Ryoanji was founded. Gi’ten Genshō (義天玄詔) is named as the founding abbot.
- The temple was burned in the Ōnin War.
- 1488 (Chōkyō 2): Reconstruction began under Hosokawa Masamoto (細川政元).
- 1499 (Meiō 8): The hōjō (abbot’s hall) was framed and the rock garden is said to have been laid out.
- 1797 (Kansei 9): A fire destroyed the main temple buildings.
- 1994 (Heisei 6): Registered as a World Heritage Site under the name “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.”
The hōjō is an Important Cultural Property. The hōjō garden is designated by the state as a National Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Visitor tips
The rock garden on the south side of the hōjō is a rectangular garden of white sand, enclosed on three sides by earthen walls (tsuiji-bei, 築地塀). Fifteen stones are arranged in groups of 5, 2, 3, 2, and 3 from the east.
Visiting guide (fees, hours, parking, etc.)
| Visiting hours | March–November: 8:00–17:00. December–February: 8:30–16:30. |
|---|---|
| Admission fee | Adults: 600 yen. High school students: 500 yen. Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen. |
| Goshuin | Handled at the reception desk in the hōjō, open 9:00–16:00. |
| Parking | About 80 parking spaces. Visitors to the rock garden are said to receive one hour of free parking. |
This guide is based on the information in each source as checked on September 19, 2026. Fees, hours, and events may change. Please check the latest information with the temple or local tourism association before your visit.
Access and map
About 7 minutes on foot from Ryoanji Station on the Keifuku Electric Railroad Kitano Line.
Other temples in Kyoto Prefecture
- Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)
- Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, Rokuon-ji)
- Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺, Jishō-ji)
- Tō-ji (東寺, Kyōō-gokoku-ji)
- Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂, Rengeō-in)
- Daigo-ji (醍醐寺)
For ancestor researchers
If you are looking for a family temple (bodaiji, 菩提寺) or the location of a necrology register (kakochō, 過去帳), you may also wish to see the list of temples in Kyoto Prefecture by municipality.
