post

Tucked away in Kyoto’s northern mountains lies an enigmatic Zen Buddhist temple that conceals a 16th-century rock garden with a surprising connection to a legendary Western musician. Far removed from the distractions of the city, this sanctuary invites visitors to contemplate the spiritual concepts of wabi sabi, where beauty and imperfection are meant to draw the viewer into a reflective state of mind, and shakkei—literally “borrowed scenery”—where the boundaries between the man-made karesansui raked gravel garden and the natural surroundings dissolve, creating a sense of tranquility and interconnectedness. Both concepts can be pondered over from the temple’s wooden engawa veranda, which offers a painterly vista that intentionally frames the distant peak of Hiezan. As for the musical connection, it was here in 1979 that the late David Bowie sat during a shochu commercial. Shoden-ji was Bowie’s favorite Japanese temple, and it was rumored that he was moved to tears by its austere beauty. —Bryan Eastlake
<a href="http://shodenji-kyoto.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shodenji-kyoto.jp</a> 
+81 75 491 3259 
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/QZxQ1KWkX1u2gsD66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">72 Kitachinjuan-cho, Nishigamo, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Japan</a>

The rock garden at Shoden-ji under a fresh blanket of snow.

Shoden-ji Temple

Kyoto Attractions