Tenju-an
Okazaki, Kyoto
Source: ja.kyoto.travel, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Tenju-an is a Nanzen-ji subtemple founded in 1339 as the memorial hall of Nanzen-ji's founding priest and rebuilt in 1602 by Hosokawa Yusai. It has two gardens, one round a pond and one of dry stone and gravel.
Insider tip
There's an entry fee. The sliding-door paintings by Hasegawa Tohaku in its abbot's hall are Important Cultural Properties, but they aren't shown to the public.
Tickets and tours
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What's on near Tenju-an
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Tenju-an, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Okazaki Sakura Kairo Jikkokubune cherry blossom boats
岡崎さくら回廊 十石舟めぐり
Time 9:30-16:30 every 15 min
Boat rides along the Okazaki canal under the cherry trees from Nanzenji Funatamari, with a departure every 15 minutes from 9:30 to 16:30. Extra boats may run.
Marmontel, CC BY 2.0 Nanzen-ji Early Morning Special Opening
南禅寺 秋の早朝特別拝観
Time 7:30 to 8:20 (meet at 7:20, about 50 minutes), Nanzen-in from 8:40; booking by online form, closes 3 days before at 16:00 Station Keage Station (Tozai Line), 10 min walk
A monk guides a group of 30 through the normally closed Seiryoden Ohiru-no-ma of the Hojo and the inner sanctum of the Sanmon gate. Photography is banned, guidance is in Japanese, and the ticket includes entry to Nanzen-in afterwards. Held only on 3, 7, 8, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29 Nov.
Marmontel, CC BY 2.0 Nanzen-ji Culture Course
令和8年 南禅寺文化講座
Time 9:00 to 11:45, reception from 8:00, enter by 8:40 Station Keage (Tozai Line), 10 min walk
Two lectures and a seated zazen instruction session, with 100 places on a first-come basis.
Marmontel, CC BY 2.0 Yamagata Aritomo, As He Really Was at Murin-an
企画展示「ありのままの山縣有朋」
Time 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:30 Station Keage (Tozai Line), 6 min walk
Student exhibition on the garden's builder, held with the Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival.
Daderot, Public domain Twilight Garden Party at Murin-an
秋の紅葉特別夜間公開 トワイライト庭園パーティー2026
Time Nov 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23. Sessions 17:30 to 19:30 and 19:30 to 21:30 Station Keage (Tozai Line), 6 min walk
Evening autumn foliage opening with café access and a short garden commentary, 30 guests per session.
Daderot, Public domain Smaller local events nearby
Morning zazen at Nanzen-ji Festival
6 dates from 25 Oct to 10 Jan (dates to be confirmed) · Nanzen-ji, Ryuenkaku, Okazaki
Zazen with a dharma talk at 6:00, about one hour, arrive 10 minutes early.
Map · Source: Nanzen-ji · 南禅寺 暁天坐禅
Sutra copying at Nanzen-ji Festival
Sun 15 Nov, Tue 15 Dec, Fri 15 Jan (dates to be confirmed) · Nanzen-ji, Ryuenkaku, Okazaki
Starts at 13:00, 1,000 yen donation, arrive 10 minutes early.
Map · Source: Nanzen-ji · 南禅寺 写経会
Nearby
Around Okazaki
Art museums, Meiji gardens and Nanzen-ji along the Lake Biwa Canal
Okazaki is Kyoto's museum quarter. Two art museums sit either side of the approach to Heian Shrine, by its giant torii, and the zoo, a crafts museum and ROHM Theatre Kyoto are a few minutes away round Okazaki Park. Follow the Lake Biwa Canal east and you're at Nanzen-ji, with Eikan-do and Murin-an a short walk from its gate.
Okazaki has 27 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 9 shrines and temples, 6 museums, 4 restaurants, 2 cafes, 2 shops, 2 landmarks and 2 parks and gardens. Read the Okazaki guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Tenju-an?
- Nanzenji Fukuchicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市左京区南禅寺福地町).
- How do I get to Tenju-an?
- The nearest station is Keage (Tozai Line). Tenju-an is in Okazaki, Kyoto.
- How much does Tenju-an cost?
- Tenju-an is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Tenju-an?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Tenju-an?
- Mornings.
Stay near Tenju-an
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