It is amazing what the monks did with a grain of gold the size of a grain of rice - gilded a tatami-sized carving! When we were there, we helped the laborers clean the area where people wash their hands before going into the temple and that was a very calming experience, too!

this is really save my time to understand myself and others better. it's like everything to be destinated. we can learn much more from those who are not afraid of loose!

I actually love Ryoanji and am there each time I'm in Kyoto. I love to sit down and just stare at the rock garden.

However, for this quintessentially zen location, it is ironic and most of the time it's packed with tourists who shuffle around looking for the best angle to take pictures. Not only is it difficult to find a seat on the ...

I went in Autumn and some plants are already dying, if not the ponds should have been much more beautiful.
Well, maybe because I have a 2 yr old toddler who prevent me from concentrating on the rocks, that's why I couldn't "see" anything. Therefore, I felt the heartache spending 500yen just to see the rocks.

Sorry, I just didn't get it. This Zen rock garden just didn't impress me or move me at all. Perhaps it would have been different if the garden wasn't packed with tourists and it wasn't 105 degrees outside.

There is a reason this is the most famous zen garden. If you come in the morning, around 7 to 8 am, you'll get the best seat with no crowd. Bring some tea and contemplate for an hour.

I absolutely loved these gardens. The pond. The bridges. The mandarin ducks. The temple. The famous "rock garden" known as karesansui - or dry landscape garden. The moss. The bell. The tea offering. The gates.

Get there early in the morning, before students and tourists arive. Be there, sit there. This is all you need to do in order to enjoy.