Discover a Quiet and Peaceful side of Kyoto
Ryōsoku-in temple is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kennin-ji school, located adjacent to Gion.
At Ryōsoku-in, you can experience Zen meditation, sutra copying, and tea ceremonies.
Also, from late May to early July, you can admire the beautiful Hangeshō flower in the garden.
Location
座禅は、経験がなくても親切に座禅の仕方を教えて頂けました。
“The Aoi Festival is one of Kyoto’s oldest festivals, with a history of over 1400 years, and is one of Kyoto’s three major festivals (Gion Festival, Jidai Festival, and Aoi Festival).”
“The name of this festival comes from the hollyhock leaves worn by the participants in the procession, and more than 500 people parade from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines.
The Saio-dai (Imperial Princess’s representative) and the ox-drawn carriage, in particular, stand out against the fresh greenery and are representative and popular symbols of the festival.
This year (2026), many foreign tourists were once again watching the parade from the streets.
Saiodai (Representative of the Imperial Princess)
Imperial carriage
Location
Here, in “Ota-no-Sawa,” located on the approach to Ota Shrine,irises grow wild.
They are in full bloom from early to mid-May.
Ota Shrine is a subsidiary shrine of Kamigamo Shrine and is
located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City.
Ota Shrine
Location
This is Ruriko In Temple, located in the northeastern part of Kyoto City,
at the foot of Mt. Hiei.
While it’s also famous as a place to admire the fresh greenery,
it’s particularly renowned for allowing visitors to simultaneously appreciate the reflections of the greenery on the floor and on the tables.
Ruriko In Temple
Location
Kyoto has many ancient festivals, and one of the three major festivals of Kyoto is the Aoi Festival, which is held at Kamigamo Shrine and Shimogamo Shrine. This photo shows a stream that flows through the grounds of Kamigamo Shrine.
Kamigamo Jinjya Shrine
Location