Tenryu-ji

Tenryu-ji's 14th-century garden is the premier Zen landscape in Arashiyama, designed by Muso Soseki to 'borrow scenery' from the surrounding mountains. The central Sogenchi Pond reflects the verdant Arashiyama hills. The garden features 150 moss-covered stones arranged in a turtle-and-crane formation, symbolizing longevity, a concrete detail that distinguishes it as a UNESCO World Heritage site with 1.2 million annual visitors, making it more accessible than many older Kyoto temples.