Visit Japan Web Unryu-in Temple
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Unryu-in Temple. It is famous for the panoramic view you can enjoy through its windows of the garden. Visiting this temple truly allows one to appreciate the beauty of nature as well as Japanese gardens.
The temple was established in 1372 by order of Emperor Go-Kogon. In 1389, Ryugeden was constructed by Emperor Goenyu, the son of Emperor Gokougo, to propagate the Nyoho Shakyo sutra. During the early Edo period, Unryu-in Temple and Ryugeden became together. Emperor Gomizuo reconstructed the Ryugeden sutra hall at the present location of Unryu-in Temple. The temple flourished as a result of the profound faith of successive imperial families. During the early Meiji era, the Reimeiden Hall, where the spirits of successive Emperors stayed, came into use.
Unryu-in Temple, a sub-temple of Sennyu-ji Temple, holds a rank equivalent to that of the head temple due to its connections with the imperial family. It is famous for housing the oldest building for sutra copying in Japan. Visitors can have the opportunity to engage in sutra copying for an additional fee.
In addition, you may take a seat on a Japanese cushion located on the left side of this room. It is known as the Lotus room in Japanese “Renge no Ma”. There are four window-holes on the shoji doors, through which you can observe the garden. Each window offers a different view, capturing only a small section of the garden. It has been recently discovered that the optimum viewpoint for observing the garden from indoors.
