Nanzenji Temple

Nanzenji Temple（南禅寺） is the head temple of the Nanzenji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.The Sanmon Gate, one of the three most important gates in Kyoto (Important Cultural Property), commands a panoramic view of the city of Kyoto.

In the Kabuki play “Roumon Gosangiri,” Ishikawa Goemon is famous for the line “zekkeikana, zekkeikana” from Sanmon.However, the Sanmon gate was rebuilt by Takatora Todo after Ishikawa Goemon’s death, so the words are a creation.

Nanzenji Suirokaku is a red brick aqueduct built in the Meiji era. Water drawn from Lake Biwa is still used as a water supply system today.

To get to Nanzenji Temple from Kyoto Station, take the Kyoto Municipal Subway for about 12 minutes (not including transfer time), then walk about 10 minutes from Keage Station.