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
Tenryū-ji, formally Tenryū Shiseizen-ji, in Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. It was founded in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji, chiefly to venerate the Buddha, with Musō Soseki as its first chief priest, and was completed in 1345. Tied to both the Ashikaga family and Emperor Go-Daigo, it is ranked first among Kyoto's Five Mountains, and in 1994 it became part of the World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto”.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is about 1 km from the point this page is mapped to, and Daikaku-ji about 1.4 km. Torokko Arashiyama Station is about 350 m off. 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
- Tenryuji Kyoto — osakaosaka · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Tenryū-ji Garden-1 — 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Tenryuji Kyoto41n4592 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Tenryuji Kyoto37n4380 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Tenryuji Kyoto36n4500 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Tenryuji Kyoto02s3s4500 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Tenryuji (Kyoto) Tahoden — Shigeru-a24 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 250208 Tenryu-ji Kyoto Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 天龍寺 Sagatenryuji Temple - panoramio — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Tenryū-ji (天龍寺), formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji (天龍資聖禅寺), is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339, primarily to venerate Gautama Buddha, and its first chief priest was Musō Soseki. Construction was completed in 1345. As a temple related to both the Ashikaga family and Emperor Go-Daigo, the temple is held in high esteem, and is ranked number one among Kyoto's so-called Five Mountains. In 1994, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto".
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-06 · 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: Torokko Arashiyama, about 350 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.
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