- Culture
- Shizuoka
Ryotanji Temple
Family temple of the Ii family dating back to the Nara period
Founded in 733 during the Nara period, Ryotanji Temple is a Zen temple with a long history in the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Ryotanji is the family temple of the prominent Ii family from its start for 40 generations; the 36th head, Naosuke Ii, is particularly famous for his role as the Tairo great elder of the government who led Japan to open trade with the West at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868).
The stunningly beautiful Japanese garden on the north side of Ryotanji was created by renowned tea master Enshu Kobori, and designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. It is a representative Zen temple garden, with a guardian stone placed at the heart, a pair of Nio protector stones on each side and a sitting meditation stone at the front. The pond, called Shinji-ike, is designed in the shape of the kanji character of "heart." With its beauty transforming as the seasons' change, the Ryotanji garden is aptly called the finest garden of the Tokai region.
Location
| Name | Ryotanji Temple |
|---|---|
| Web Sites | https://www.inhamamatsu.com/culture/ryotanji-temple.php |
| Address | 1989 Iinoya, Inasa-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka |
| Access | From Hamamatsu Station, take the Entetsu Bus bound for Okuyama, get off at Jinguji bus stop, then walk approximately 10 minutes From Hamamatsu Station, take the Entetsu Bus bound for Shibukawa, get off at Iinoyagu-mae bus stop, then walk approximately 3 minutes |
| Business Hours | 9:00 to 16:30 (Gate closes at 17:00) |
| Inquiries | TEL: 053-542-0480 |