Ryoan-ji

龍安寺

UNESCO's 15-stone dry rock garden

Hours

Mar–Nov 8:00–17:00; Dec–Feb 8:30–16:30

Tickets

Adults ¥600

Address

13 Ryoanji Goryonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku

Sit on the veranda and fifteen stones sit on white gravel like islands. The story goes that from any seat at least one stone hides behind another, so you only ever count fourteen. Time slides by while you sit. There's also a large pond garden near the entrance, so it's worth more than a rock-garden dash. It joined the UNESCO list in 1994 as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.