Great Zen temple with a Victorian brick aqueduct right in the grounds; free access to the main temple.
Nanzen-ji is one of the most important and majestic Zen temple complexes in Kyoto, founded in 1291. The grounds, located at the foot of the eastern mountains, surprise with their scale and diversity: an imposing three-storey wooden Sanmon gate, perfectly raked Zen rock gardens and numerous sub-temples with private gardens. But its most unexpected element is the red-brick Victorian aqueduct Suirokaku, built in the Meiji period to carry water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto: it is a fascinating contrast between Zen architecture and Western engineering. Access to the outer grounds is free; the sub-temples and palaces have individual admissions of between 300 and 600 ¥. It opens from 8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 in winter). To get there, take the Tozai subway line to Keage station and walk 10 minutes. The temple is also the finishing point of the Philosopher's Path and is surrounded by the best tofu restaurants in Kyoto.
