Kyoto: Konchi-in Temple Gardens

 The first stop in my tour of the Kansai region is the Konchi-in Temple in Kyoto.

 It was founded in 1400, but was moved to its current location just outside Nanzen-ji Temple in the 1600s. There are a few buildings on the temple grounds, including this shrine building.

 Here's the inside of the shrine.

 There are several figurines inside the first room of the shrine. It's a nice building that I couldn't go inside, but the gardens are better anyway.

 The best part, perhaps, is the zen garden.

 Framed by several carefully trimmed trees and landscape rocks, it's a nice place to just sit and relax.

 A panoramic view of the zen area, viewed from the temple veranda.

 The garden is designed to be viewed from the temple, essentially as a two-dimensional work. The rock garden sets the frame. The temple can be seen above.

 There is a nice pond in another portion of the garden, though.

 Here's another portion of the garden. It looks like the gardens were designed independently from each other.

 Travel through a gate or around a group of trees, and you're in a different world.

Konchi-in Temple is worth a visit if you're going to Nanzen-ji, because it's just around the corner. It's open 8:30-17:00 and admission is 400 yen. It's located between Nanzen-ji and Keage subway station, a very short way down a side street. Use this Google Map to get to the temple. The entrance is on the east side of the temple grounds.