Tenryu-ji Temple | Review by Linda Liao

Tenryu-ji Temple

This Zen temple was once ranked first among Kyoto's Five Mountains, and it is also designated as a World Heritage Site. There are many things to see in the precincts, including Sogenchi Teien (Sogen Pond Garden) and Unryuzu (Cloud-Dragon Painting).

7 Sep 2026 See More

When visiting Arashiyama, besides the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple is also worth setting aside some time to explore. The temple looks solemn and historic from the outside, but once inside, I discovered scenery in a league of its own. Sitting on the wooden floor and admiring the garden was especially memorable. Sogenchi Pond and the surrounding greenery complement each other, creating a simple yet layered view that naturally calmed my mind.

Tenryu-ji is one of the most representative Zen temples in Kyoto's Arashiyama area, and both the temple and garden retain a strong sense of traditional Japanese beauty. The garden's most distinctive feature is how naturally it brings together the pond, trees, rocks, and distant mountains. Changes in season and light create a different impression every time. It's also a nice place to escape the summer heat and take a short break while traveling.

Other Reviews by Linda Liao

MOMOYA’s MENMA YAWARAGI

It's great as a snack on its own, perfect as a side dish with rice, or even as an ingredient or seasoning in cooking.
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Momoya is a well-known Japanese food brand, and its fukujinzuke is one of its most popular signature products. Fukujinzuke is a Japanese pickle made mainly from pickled vegetables. It has a bright color, a sweet and slightly salty flavor, and a crisp, appetizing texture. It goes especially well with curry rice. A bite of curry with fukujinzuke makes the overall flavor more refreshing and less heavy. The seasoned bamboo shoots are also good, with a light flavor that pairs well with dry noodles or white rice.
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When traveling in Japan, I sometimes choose a standing restaurant for a quick and simple meal. Small standing noodle shops like this usually aren't very big and only have space to eat while standing, but you can always see plenty of local office workers coming and going. They use their short lunch breaks to order a bowl of piping-hot noodles, then hurry back to work as soon as they finish. This everyday scene also gives me a sense of the fast pace of life in Japan.

The biggest appeal of standing restaurants is their affordable prices. You can usually get a bowl of hot noodles for less than JPY 500, making them very convenient for travelers looking to save time and money. You can sometimes find these little shops near train stations as well. Especially in the cold winter, when you're walking down the street shivering and see the lights on inside, you can't help but go in. A sip of hot broth not only fills your stomach, but also adds a little warmth to a tiring journey.
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About 50 stores are lined up in a 150-meter-long arcade. As the name "Doguya-suji" suggests, the stores sell only the tools that support Osaka's food culture, ranging from kitchen equipment used by professionals to tableware for the general public.
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As I walked into Doguyasuji Shopping Street, what caught my attention most were the incredibly lifelike food models in the display windows. I had seen Japanese TV programs showing artisans making food models, from choosing materials and shaping them to carefully adding color at the end. Every step requires patience and skill. Seeing the finished products in person this time, I was truly impressed by the artisans' creativity. They looked so realistic that I couldn't help wondering if they were actually edible.

Besides the food models, there are all kinds of beautiful and practical bowls, plates, and utensils to choose from. The dazzling selection was almost overwhelming. What impressed me most was how exquisitely designed even the tiny chopstick rests were. Some were cute and realistic, making even an ordinary meal feel more cheerful!