Shōden-ji Temple

This was probably my favorite place to visit while in Kyoto. This centuries old temple is situated just up the side of a bamboo forest mountain at the northwestern end of the Osaka-Kyoto valley region. You enter a small area, with a few simple tatami rooms and a small outside area with a beautiful small zen garden, with a view of the mountain on the opposite side of the valley. Its relative difficulty to get to means that there is a very high probability you can stay there for hours with either only a few quiet and respectful locals meditating or, with luck, completely alone.

400 yen entry is worth it for peace of mind. It is something like an Onsen for your mind.

Tucked above a densely forested area full of cedar and bamboo trees, with birds chirping all around, a handful yuzu trees by the temple, a stream running below in the bamboo forest, next to aShinto shrine

Beautiful temple that is not filled with tourists and definitely worth a visit. This is one of the sites with the blood floors from the saving of the leader that later unified Japan. They have put them on the ceiling as a remembrance of this sacrifice. It is a stilling and beautiful tribute. The shoji screens are beautiful and hundreds of years old, the Zen garden is so pretty and the trail/ bamboo forest leading up to it are a beautiful walk. I highly recommend a visit. Adults cost ¥400

Such a nice temple to visit - autumn would be rather spectacular!

No word to describe this place. Just listen to the silence and take all the energy of the view and the monument.

I was lucky when I recently visited in that I was completely alone in the Zen garden. Worth going to for those who have already seen the more common and main tourist temples of Kyoto.

Secluded and serene. Perhaps the best thing is that there are not hordes of tourists here.

This was a magical place and well worth the visit
You can just lose yourself here it's so tranquil
I would recommend a cab to here and make sure you book a return or you will be stranded...there are no local cabs and virtually no English speaking locals
The google direction says an 8 minute walk from the bus...good luck with that
You could easily get lost here
My cab driver was brilliant he waited an hour for me at no extra cost and even joined me on my walkabout..absolute brilliant service
As I said well worth the visit

Quiet place. You don't see many visitors here and it's pretty short. Nice place to relax

Beautiful temple with actually a lot to see for free. I did pay the fee to check out the actual room and it was amazing to see history for this area. Very quiet with a nice view. If you're in the area I highly recommend stopping by and giving it a look.

Nice view of the small Japanese garden and bamboo forest

Very peaceful and secluded temple. There isn’t much here except peace and quiet which can be had to find other places. Legend has it that it was also David Bowie’s favorite temple.

Super!
This temple is like 'Ryoanji' without the masses.
Apparently, it's David Bowie's favorite spot in Kyoto. Bowie shot a commercial for a Japanese 'Sake' brewery here sometime in the eighties. The Story goes that when Bowie stepped in he was moved to tears.

Nice quiet Little Temple.

Beautiful, small, and quiet.

So quaint and lovely. A very personal and quiet experience.

Location of Japanese sake ad David Bowie shed tears in this tranquility. not changed even now Sounds of rain and birds only

Great oasis of peace and quiet. A good spot to visit even if a bit further away.

Lovely place. Not much to do though.

#meditatemore