Myokenji Temple

Founded in 1321 and one of Kyoto's oldest Nichiren Buddhist temples, Myokenji is known for four small gardens scattered across its grounds, each viewable with the 500-yen entrance fee. The Shikai Shodo Garden in front of the imperial gate uses stacked stones and raked sand to represent the spread of the Lotus Sutra. The Bamboo Spot Garden, linked to paintings by master artist Ogata Korin, is cut back annually so it continuously renews. The Korin Kyokusui Garden centers on two pine trees and replaced a Korin-attributed garden lost to an 1788 fire. A suikinkutsu water jar near the fourth garden produces a faint dripping sound when water passes through it.