The garden of Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

Just after it has stopped raining, the exquisite colors of autumn are flooding the silent garden surrounded by the bamboo grove.

The stone pavement to the gate of Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

The deep green of the moss and bamboo is filling the rainy passage to the gate. 

The pale autumnal tints of maple leaves inside the gate are adding a subtle touch of charm to this place of stillness.

Autumn leaves in koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

The leaves of deciduous trees take on spectacular flaming colors to flutter to the ground with every puff of the cold wind.

Soon long and bitter winter will come here and every living thing will quietly wait for next spring in the coldness.

A Tsukubai (stone washbasin) in the garden of a teahouse in Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

In the quiet garden adjacent the tea house, the autumn leaves are softly falling onto the old stone washbasin which is thickly covered with vivid green moss.

Autumn leaves in Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

I visited Kyoto to enjoy the beautiful coloring of the autumn leaves in this ancient city.

In the tranquil garden of the small temple, a passing gentle shower fell on the leaves which were taking on brilliant autumnal tints.

Just after the rainfall, the graceful colors of the leaves, which had been purified by the cold rainwater, impressed me deeply with their sudden overwhelming beauty.

A series of pictures which I took during this weekend trip to Kyoto will be presented for some time so as to keep a memory of the unforgettable sights of this fast passing season.

The autumnal garden of Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

In the calm garden just cleansed by the rain shower, the wet stepping stones extend through exquisite colors of autumn as if leading me to eternity.

In several days, this peaceful garden will be filled with flaming color of innumerable autumn leaves with the coming on of biting coldness.

The stone garden of Ryugen-inn of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

The bright morning sun is clearly illuminating the ocean and islands of this quiet stone garden.

The passage of time disappears in this world and only a present moment stays everlastingly.

Autumn leaves in Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

In Kaede-no-niwa (the garden of maple trees) of this minor temple, the subtle harmony of autumnal colors was floating gently like a heavenly music in a brief sprinkle of rain.

The stone garden of Ryugen-inn of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

In the bright and clear morning sun special to this season, the eaves of the Hojyo (abbot's chamber) is casting a sharp shadow onto the stone garden thickly covered with green moss.

Autumn leaves in Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

The raindrops of the sudden rain is softly falling on the autumn leaves as if to try to heighten their beauty further.

Garden stones in Ryugen-inn of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

The liquid morning sunlight is streaming through the corridor and is shining on the islands and ripples of this small inner Zen-garden.

The autumnal garden of Koto-in of Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

In the depths of this noble garden, you will find the hidden gateway to the eternal truth.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

These pictures were taken on my recent tour of Kyoto. Kyoto is the notable metropolis which has lasted for more than a millennium and boasts a proud heritage of the unique art and culture of Japan.

Many of the following pictures show two basic types of gardens in the famed Zen temples of Kyoto. The first type of garden is called a Kare-sansui (dry landscape) garden, which represents a metaphysical landscape with rocks and gravel. The second type of garden is called Chisen (pond and spring) garden, which represents an ideal landscape of hills and streams with water and rocks.

This beautiful Karesansui garden is called Dokuza-tei (the garden of sitting in solitude) and belongs to the Hojo (head monk's quarters) of the Zuiho-in (beautiful mountain house) sub-temple of Daitoku-ji.

This garden symbolically represents the Chinese mythological landscape of the Horai-san (the isle of eternal youth where a hermit lives). This sacred island is quietly and solitarily sitting midst a stormy wilderness of waters.

Kyoto must be a golden treasury of Japanese beauty and spirituality.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

This Karesansui garden lies to the south of the Hojo of the Ryugen-in (dragon-source house) sub-temple of Daitoku-ji.

The rocks located about the middle represent the Horai-zan and the white gravel surrounding these rocks expresses the mighty ocean.

A Tsubo-niwa (inner garden) in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

This famous Tsubo-niwa (inner garden) of the Ryugen-in of Daitoku-ji is called Toteki-ko (east drip court) garden.

A Tsubo-niwa garden is commonly provided in the narrow space between the buildings to let in light and wind.

This small dry landscape symbolically represents a teaching of Zen that the drips of water dropping down from rocks assemble together to be a mountain stream, such mountain streams gather together to be a great river, and great rivers concentrate to be the open sea at last. That is to say, many little efforts realize a great result in the discipline for enlightenment.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

This stone belongs to the Koda-tei (the Koda River garden) of Ryugen-in of Daitoku-ji. This small and refined stone garden is composed in so-called A-un-no-niwa (the garden of alpha and omega) style.

The moss-covered stone and ground represent the waterside of the Koda River. The white gravel symbolizes the ruffled surface of this river.


The Koda River is the Chinese river which flows near the Rinzai-in (Rinzai Zen temple) which Gigen or the founder of Rinzai Zen sect established in 9th century.

This stone is A-no-ishi (the stone of alpha). A (alpha) means the root entity from which entire existence originates. Un (omega) means the ultimate wisdom which entire existenese reaches finally.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

This beautifully moss-covered garden is located to the north of the Hojo of the Ryugen-in sub-temple of Daitoku-ji and is called Ryugin-tei (dragon flute garden).

The set of three rocks standing about the middle symbolizes the Shumi-sen mountain (the Mount Sumeru) which rises up in the center of the universe.

According to the Buddhist outlook on the universe, the summit of the Shumi-sen reaches into the sacred world of gods and is surrounded by seven mountains of gold, the Tecchi-san (mountain of iron) and eight oceans.

These oceans are elegantly represented by the moss-covered ground in this peaceful garden.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

These steppingstones are placed in the Dokuza-tei of Zuiho-in and lead to the Chashitsu (tea room) named Yokei-an (heritage-of-fortune hut).

The steppingstones, the white gravel and the moss-covered ground compose an elegant picturesque scene.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)

This stone is Un-no-ishi (the stone of omega) of the Koda-tei (the Koda River garden) of Ryugen-in.

As stated above, Un (omega) means the ultimate wisdom which entire existenese finally reaches.

A Karesansui garden in Daitoku-ji (Kyoto)