Zen Gardens and Temples of Kyoto: A Guide to Kyoto’s Most Important Sites

This Japan travel guide presents a journey into the true heart of the Kyoto experience–one which brings you deep into the world of Kyoto’s ancient Zen Buddhist culture. This is the first comprehensive guide to Kyoto’s most important Zen garden and temple sites. Kyoto’s Zen heritage represents one of mankind’s greatest achievements–recognized by the large number which have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Millions of visitors travel to Kyoto yearly in search of their secrets, and here for the first time is a comprehensive overview of every major site. Over 50 Japanese temples and gardens–including all World Heritage Sites–are captured in sensitive photos by acclaimed Kyoto-based photographer John Einarsen. A detailed introduction to each temple by local expert John Dougill includes information about special opportunities for visitors to the temples–such as early morning meditation sessions, temple food offerings and special green tea sets provided to enhance the contemplative experience–along with other “insider” information that no other guide provides. The foreword by Takafumi Kawakami, the deputy head priest of the respected Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, serves to place the book in the context of eastern and western Buddhist thought and practice. His widely viewed TED Talk “How mindfulness can help you to live in the present” has been viewed by over 100,000 people.