The Tofuku-ji Temple fully immerses you in the world of Zen Buddhism.
Tofuku-ji is one of the oldest and largest temples in Kyoto and offers some of the most magnificent sights, traditional buildings, and gardens in the city.
As it's easily accessible via train from Kyoto Station, Tofuku-ji Temple is a wonderful place to kick any Kyoto sightseeing journey off at.
Head of one of the schools of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism, this prominent Kyoto temple holds great significance to the followers of Zen Buddhism in the ancient capital. The construction of the temple took 19 years, with fires inverting progress twice, before it was eventually completed in 1236. The temple features a garan layout, which consists of four buildings: the Sanmon gate (the oldest Zen gate of its kind), Hondo (main hall), Hojo (abbot’s chamber), and Kuri (office).
Coupled with its rich history and deep connection to Kyoto, the garan style of temple layout is one of the reasons Tofuku-ji is home to such a great number of culturally important sites.
If you're looking to make your first temple in Kyoto a memorable one, then hop over to Tofuku-ji from Kyoto Station.