Starting with the book by V.Ya. Tsvetov, published in 1986, the first trip to Kyoto and, accordingly, the first acquaintance with the Ryoanji Garden (may the Japanese forgive me for such a transcription), this place immediately fell into my soul. Reanji always remains a mandatory item of the program in Kyoto - not so much to look for the notorious stones (which, according to the inventors / organizers of the garden, should be inquisitively and thoughtfully searched for sitting on the edge - not standing at all - when not imbued with the true spirit of Zen and therefore eternally fleeing tourists during, sometimes, one tour can quickly enough to find a certain area from where all 15 stones are visible), and in order to feel the cold or warmth on a clear day of wooden floors, stitch through the blown sliding walls with a glance through the building, calmly walk around the entire garden of the temple during the cherry blossom period, whether in autumn (judging by the Twitter of the community, it is also wonderful there in winter), look at the pond with a small area equipped with benches and throw off all the hustle and bustle of megacities at once

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Александр Бадин

Level 23 Local Expert

The most famous rock garden in Japan was created in this temple. Fifteen stones were placed in the garden. If you look from the center of the garden, only fourteen are visible. Having achieved perfection, the monks could see all fifteen. I am not a monk, but I was able to find a point, though not from the center, from where I saw all fifteen stones. Which is what I wish you. If you come here in winter, take warm socks with you. At the entrance to the temple, they take off their shoes, in winter they give slippers, but it's still cold. They go barefoot in the summer.

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