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Ilyena_Sylph asked about my favorite place to visit in Japan. That would have to be specifically Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto! Daitokuji is a compound of little tiny Buddhist temples, many of which have a beautiful little garden attached to them where you can sit on a sun-warmed wooden veranda and contemplate the meaning of life.
The most famous of them is Daisen-in, which has a beautifully austere rock garden that represents a river that loops around the temple before ending in a vast ocean (or perhaps a foggy mountain range):

Koto-in has an entrance walk through a maple grove before reaching a mossy garden.

Ryougen-in has a set of five very small rock gardens that focus on having especially dramatic "ripples" around the rocks.

I usually end up spending a couple of hours going from temple to temple when I visit; it's not on the usual rotation of school tours, so it's often much more quiet and relaxing than the more well-known temples!
The most famous of them is Daisen-in, which has a beautifully austere rock garden that represents a river that loops around the temple before ending in a vast ocean (or perhaps a foggy mountain range):

Koto-in has an entrance walk through a maple grove before reaching a mossy garden.

Ryougen-in has a set of five very small rock gardens that focus on having especially dramatic "ripples" around the rocks.

I usually end up spending a couple of hours going from temple to temple when I visit; it's not on the usual rotation of school tours, so it's often much more quiet and relaxing than the more well-known temples!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-04 09:41 pm (UTC)Those are beautiful pictures, I can almost feel the peace coming off of them.
It sounds like a wonderful place to be, too!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-07 01:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-05 11:31 am (UTC)Btw does "-in" mean temple?
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-07 01:10 am (UTC)Also, yes! "-in" means Biddhist temple and "-ji" means a Shinto shrine! :)