This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Tenryu-ji, un des plus beaux temples d’Arashiyama

^{As my primary language is not English, there are probably some mistakes in my translation.}

Remember that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (@vcelier), but @japon, a French guy.

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The district of Arashiyama, west of Kyoto, is a magical place. It is much less urbanized, less cars, a lot of greenery (but also a lot of tourists).

I continue my visit, walking next to the bamboo plantation. Rehabilitation work following the typhoon is progressing rapidly. A new area is reachable again. But I do not linger, I go to Tenryū-ji temple.

I must not have arrived by the main entrance, I find myself completely in the back. The person at the counter tells me that through this entrance I will only be able to see the garden, not the interior of the temple. It does not matter, it's mainly the garden that interests me.

This is not really a typical Japanese garden as we imagine, at least on the first part. There are many plants, the paths are loaded. Here, the simplicity is not de rigueur.

It's still beautiful, but it's not necessarily the style that I prefer. I continue, the path climbs up a small hill to have an overview. And here I discover something else ...

Next to the temple, a sublime Japanese garden, organized around a pond and its many rocks.

The contrast is striking with the first part of the visit, and I do not regret having done so in this direction.

A large dry garden separates the buildings from the pond, with its white gravel and moss carpets. I immediately notice the beautiful pines, including this red pine (which takes its name from the slightly reddish color of the bark).

In front of the pond, pines and maple trees that change color gradually. In the distance, the mountains. It is extremely quiet, despite being only a few tens of meters from the bamboo plantation and its growing tourist crowd.

The temple itself is remarkable, with its traditional wooden architecture and tatami mats. Even if it is the most important of the 5 big temples of Kyoto, it is especially for its garden that one comes to visit it.

All these adventures open my appetite, and in Arashiyama (as everywhere in Japan for that matter), there is always something to please you. I notice a small wooden hut, inside two girls prepare noodles.

Udon noodles with curry! Perfect to regain strength, because the day is far from over and I still have wonderful things to discover.

-- @japon

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01: Travel diary in Japan, by @japon
02: Tokyo, overcrowded city? Really? by @japon
03: Are the Japanese too disciplined? by @japon
04: Going to Japan without speaking Japanese? by @japon
05: Ueno, more than just a big park in Tokyo, by @japon
06: Asakusa, diving in the heart of Tokyo's historic district, by @japon
07: Ameyoko, Ueno's colorful market, by @japon
08: Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world, by @japon
09: Climb the steps of Atago Jinja Shrine in Tokyo, by @japon
10: Hama Rikyu, an exceptional park in the heart of Tokyo, by @japon
11: Jimbocho, old books and tempura, by @japon
12: Shinjuku Gyoen Park and the best burger in the world!, by @japon
13: One night in Shibuya, by @japon
14: Takeshita dori : this little street dedicated to fashion (and good crepes), by @japon
15: They lie to you about Kyoto, by @japon
16: The temples and secret garden of Higashi in Kyoto, by @japon
17: Kinkaku-ji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
18: Ryoan-ji, the amazing stone garden in Kyoto, by @japon
19: The Ninna-ji Temple and its extraordinary gardens, by @japon
20: Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace Park, by @japon
21: Nishiki Market: A Must in Kyoto, by @japon
22: Ginkaku-ji, the temple of the silver pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
23: Meditate on the path of philosophy, by @japon
24: Nanzen-ji, its impressive gate and two gardens, by @japon
25: Heian-jinju: the big shrine and its garden that I almost missed, by @japon
26: Eikan-do, the temple of the momiji maples in Kyoto, by @japon
27: Kodai-ji, a Kyoto temple dedicated to a woman's love for her husband, by @japon
28: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, the streets of Higashiyama, by @japon
29: Kiyomizu-dera, the temple of pure water in Kyoto, by @japon
30: Tofuku-ji: the maple lookout point, by @japon
31: Makis, Yasaka-jinja Shrine and Maruyama Park, by @japon
32: Nijo Castle and its fabulous garden, by @japon
33:Departure for Osaka and its castle, and announcement of a typhoon, by @japon
34: Osaka, the garden Keitaku-en under a torrential rain, by @japon
35: Doguya-suji, the kitchen market in Osaka, by @japon
36: Dōtonbori, the bustling district of Osaka, by @japon
37: Back to Kyoto and Typhoons, meetings and reunions, by @japon
38: Sanjūsangen-dō, the temple of a thousand and one statues, by @japon
39: On the road to Fushimi Inari Taisha, by @japon
40: Daigo-ji, the large Buddhist complex built on a mountainside, by @japon
41: Departure for Nara, we look at the fallow deers and we mistake the garden, by @japon
42: Isui-en, the big Japanese garden of Nara, by @japon
43: Todai-ji, the temple with the huge Buddha statue in Nara, by @japon
44: Nara, from Nigatsu-dō to Kasuga, by @japon
45: Arashiyama, the district west of Kyoto and its bamboo plantation, by @japon
46: Tasting the serenity of Jojakko-ji Temple, by @japon