Sep 17, 2016 - 1 min read

Taizo-in Zen Garden, Kyoto

Enjoy spring in this Kyoto zen garden

By Shozo Fujii

Community writer

Translated by Illaura Rossiter

Community writer

The "Yin rock garden" to the right of the entrance

A weeping cherry tree in the Taizo-in zen garden

The "Yang Garden" to the left of the entrance

The stones in the "Yang rock garden" are brilliantly white and positive

The black stones in the "Yin rock garden" represent shade

This cherry tree was once used in JR's "Let's go to Kyoto!" posters

Camellia and peach flowers blooming in the early spring

This scene will certainly be beautiful when the azaleas bloom

In Kyoto's Myoshin Temple is a sub-temple called Taizo-in, with a stunning zen garden. The weeping cherry blossom tree at the entrance appears to cradle both sides of the Yin and Yang rock gardens. This tree has a reputation as Kyoto's most prominent cherry tree. Indeed, it is the very tree that was used in the JR "Let's go to Kyoto" campaign posters. It is so beautiful that simply seeing it will make you feel it was worth the trip to Kyoto. Unfortunately, when I visited the temple the other day I was sad to see the buds had still not bloomed. The life of the flowers are very short. Perhaps this is what attracts us to them so much. If time allows, you should see the cherry blossoms of Kyoto in their prime at the Taizo-in Zen Garden.