Finding Zen in Kyoto

Takusan is the word that my taxi driver used to convey how crowded Kyoto gets during sakura, the cherry blossom season. And Higashiyama is the epicenter of all that mad tourist rush, particularly around Yasaka Shrine. Just a few hundred meters north of all this is the Shoren-in Temple. It is off the usual tourist circuit. While there are hordes of people walking up to the Yasaka Shrine, there was hardly anyone at Shoren-in. It was a chance visit for us. We had stopped for coffee and hot chocolate at a cafe right in front of Shoren-in, and learnt about the special night time viewing. For four days during spring, the temple gets magnificently lit up. It was beautiful. It was tranquil. I had to visit it again. By myself. I’m glad I did. This time during the day time.

Just like with most Japanese temples, the heart of Shoren-in is it’s garden. You have to be there, you have to experience it in order to appreciate it’s garden. Words and pictures will hardly do it any justice. All I would say is that I experienced my zen moment at Shoren-in. I felt present. I felt in the moment.