There’s a lot to take in at Nanzen-ji Temple, located in a culture-rich part of Kyoto, Higashiyama, where the must-see Ginkaku-ji Temple is also situated. It’s an important temple in the Rinzai Zen sect of Buddhism, and among the many structures that can be visited here is the Hojo, the former head priest’s residence.
Another major attraction is the Meiji-era aqueduct, which still carries water from Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake, and the tea room, where you can pay a few yen for a traditional hot drink and sweet and sit in peaceful contemplation. Travelers usually visit Nanzen-ji independently while touring the Higashiyama district.