Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-06 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Nanzen-ji, formally Zuiryūsan Nanzen-ji and once called Zenrin-ji, is a Zen temple in Kyoto founded in 1291 by Emperor Kameyama on the site of his former detached palace. It is the head temple of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. Its precincts are a Historic Site and the Hōjō gardens a Place of Scenic Beauty. The temple was destroyed by fire in 1895 and rebuilt in 1909.
Keage Station on the Tōzai Line is about 600 m away in a straight line. Chion-in is about 1.3 km off, and Philosopher’s Path about 1.5 km. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- 251213 Nanzen-ji Kyoto Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Nanzenji DSC0877 — Fg2 · Public domain · source · resized
- Nanzenji (3608812745) — KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
- NanzenjiNanzenin teien — PlusMinus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- NanzenTempleSanmon(ThreeGate) — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Nanzen-ji Ⅳ — Hiro2006 (uploader on Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺21 - panoramio — baggio4ever · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 251218 Konchi-in Kyoto Japan07s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 251213 Nanzen-ji Suirokaku Kyoto Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 251213 Nanzen-ji Kyoto Japan15s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Nanzen-ji (南禅寺), or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly Zenrin-ji (禅林寺, Zenrin-ji), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyama established it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. The precincts of Nanzen-ji are a nationally designated Historic Site and the Hōjō gardens a Place of Scenic Beauty. The temple was destroyed in a fire in 1895 and rebuilt in 1909.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-06 · Official visitor information · Official visitor information · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Keage (Tōzai Line), about 600 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Traveler reviews
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