Myoshin-ji is the head temple of the Myoshin-ji school of Buddhism, which has 3,500 affiliated temples across Japan, and has declared itself the largest of all Zen Buddhist branches. The grounds here are beautiful, so much so that they’ve been designated as a national place of scenic beauty. You can join a tour to see the inside of the Hatto Hall, which features cultural treasures such as a beautiful dragon painting and a 7th-century bell.
The temple is situated in the northwestern part of Kyoto, about a five-minute walk from JR Hanazono Station on the San-In Line (with direct service to Kyoto Station) or a 3-minute walk from Myoshinji Station along the Keifuku Kitano Line. The Imperial Palace takes about 20 minutes to reach by bus.
The temple is open every day, throughout the year, and like many garden temple complexes in the city, it’s at its prettiest during the spring and late autumn months. Tours (in Japanese) are offered every 20 minutes year round, with a break for lunch. They last around half an hour.
A 10- to 15-minute walk north of Myoshin-ji sits Ryōan-ji , a temple complex that's owned by Myoshin-ji and is best known for its rock garden, complete with raked sand and beautiful mossy mounds. While the garden is certainly the star feature here, the temple is also worth visiting, with its tatami mat floors and traditional paintings.
