Ryutanji Temple

岩谷真之 a month ago

The paintings on the sliding doors are more impressive than those at Ryutanji Temple in the original Hamamatsui Itanigu Shrine. I saw some really good things

桃園輝 4 months ago

The old man who was at the reception desk was talking to the visitors and looking down on them, which made me feel very uncomfortable. It's a shame because it's the first time I've met someone I didn't like at a temple. I went in because I wanted to see the garden, but I paid 400 yen to see what it was like. It's far from the city so I don't think you need to come all the way. The area opposite the Shoin Garden is in disrepair and I wonder if temple work is like this. Well, that chief priest makes sense.

yukichi (ゆきち) 6 months ago

I visited here because my husband is a fan of Mitsunari Ishida and because there is a fusuma that used to belong to Sawayama Castle. I was impressed by how well it has survived up to this time. There were no other tourists other than us, so we took our time to look around. It was very quiet and the garden was lovely. There is a road behind the temple that leads to Sawayama Castle, but I didn't have time to go there this time. I would like to go there once if I have time.

Heiko Sendrowski 5 years ago

Ryotanji offers three gardens of excellent design. During history many novices trained here became "gardening priests" and established temple gardens on their own. According to a leaflet offered by the friendly resident priest, the rock garden (fudaraku) main island depicts Mt. Fudaraku, spiritual home if the Goddess of Mercy, Kannon. The pond and waterfall in the next garden symbolise tortoise and crane, wherein the "turtle" island is made from unhewn stone. This garden is actually not very deep but looks quite spacious due to the application of the "borrowed scenery" technique. The last garden comprises a tea house and has a kind of enchanted air. Also, do not forget to appreciate the many sliding door paintings ("fusuma") and other paintings and articles on display. The temple could benefit from a helping hand. If you are used to Kyoto's impeccable sterility you should be prepared for some surprise. However, the temple is not a museum but a living religious institution.

Richard Smittenaar 7 years ago

Very pleasantly surprised. Slightly dilapidated temple with three gardens: one dry, and two north and south on two sides of a big tatami room. Not only are the gardens quite high quality, the place was deserted when I visited (summer Sunday afternoon, plenty of people at the castle), could absorb the aesthetics at my leisure.