Tenryu-ji Temple Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Tenryu-ji Temple. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Perfect Kyoto 1-Day Bus Tour

• Kyoto 6-Hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

• 10 Must-See Spots in Kyoto One-Day Private Tour (up to 7 People)

• Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Monkeys, Matcha and Temple Tour

• Kyoto 4-Hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

General admission tickets to the gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple start from ¥500 for adults and high school students, ¥300 for children in elementary and middle school, and are free for children before school age. It costs an optional ¥300 to enter the temple’s building and an extra ¥500 to see the Dharma Hall.

Yes, Tenryu-ji Temple is well worth visiting. Not only is this heritage-listed temple considered one of the most important Zen temples in Japan, it’s also famous for its well-preserved traditional Japanese garden. Tenryu-ji Temple is also very close to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and many other Arashiyama attractions, so it’s easy to add to a sightseeing itinerary.

It depends, both on which tickets you buy for Tenryu-ji Temple and how interested you are in gardens. Most people need 20–40 minutes to explore the temple gardens, but garden enthusiasts will no doubt need longer. Visiting the temple buildings, in addition to the gardens, typically takes about 1–1.5 hours.

Not particularly. While ramps provide barrier-free access to the temple entrance, some areas of the gardens and access to the buildings require navigating steps. The gravel paths that lead you around the gardens often have cobblestone edges or drains, which visitors using wheelchairs may need assistance to manage.

The best months to visit Tenryu-ji Temple let you see the temple garden in all of its seasonal splendor. Visit in late March or early April to see the garden lush, green, and with trees blossoming; or visit in late November or early December to see it decorated in fall colors. However, both of these times of year are likely to be busy.