Yes, it is worth it, and the best version costs nothing. Tenryu-ji, the Zen temple at the heart of Arashiyama, runs a free, walk-in zazen (seated meditation) session from 9:00 to 10:00 on the second Sunday of the month. The remaining dates in 2026 are 8 November and 13 December.
On any other day, copy a sutra or eat a temple lunch. Sutra copying costs ¥1,800 including admission; phone to book and arrive between 9:30 and 14:30. The temple restaurant, Shigetsu, serves Buddhist vegetarian lunches (shojin ryori) from ¥3,800 plus the ¥500 garden fee. Book 2–3 days ahead, and note it is closed on Thursdays.
Best plan: zazen at 9:00, the garden at 10:00, then an 11:00 lunch: about three hours, all on the temple grounds.
Plan your Zen morning
All three programmes are run by the temple itself (for the garden and its history, see our Tenryu-ji guide). Pick a date between today and 31 December 2026 to see the day’s times, the total and your booking deadline.
The planner needs JavaScript. All times, prices and closures are in the sections below.
The planner adds up the published prices. Children’s prices for sutra copying and meals are not published, so they are left out. Sutra copying and Shigetsu each include a garden fee in their published price, so ask the temple whether you pay it twice if you do both.
Zazen-kai: free, second Sunday, 9:00
The temple’s monthly meditation meeting is held at Yu’un-an from 9:00 to 10:00. It is free for individual participants, needs no reservation and welcomes beginners. A Ryumon-kai seminar follows from 10:00 to 11:00 in the same place, also free. The temple does not say which language the sessions are in, so ask if you need English.
On that rule the remaining 2026 dates are Sun 8 Nov and Sun 13 Dec; there is no session in February, July or August.
Groups can arrange a special zazen session by phoning 075-881-1235 (8:30–17:00).
Sutra copying: ¥1,800, book by phone
- Price¥1,800, made up of ¥1,000 for the copying and ¥800 temple admission, materials included.
- TimesArrive any time between 9:30 and 14:30; the session ends at 16:30.
- WhereTahoden hall. You need to bring nothing; the materials are provided. On 29 and 30 October 2026 the halls stay closed until around midday for the founder’s memorial, so phone first.
- BookingPhone 075-881-1235 to book and confirm. The site gives no online booking.
Because it is indoors and unhurried, sutra copying is one of the better rainy-day things to do in Kyoto.
Shigetsu shojin lunch: menus and booking
| Course | Dishes | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuki (Snow) | Rice, soup and 5 sides | ¥3,800 | 2 days ahead |
| Tsuki (Moon) | Rice, soup and 6 sides | ¥6,500 | 3 days ahead, 2+ people |
| Hana (Flower) | Rice, soup and 7 sides | ¥9,000 | 3 days ahead, 2+ people |
- Hours11:00–14:00, with booking slots every 30 minutes from 11:00 to 14:00. Closed on Thursdays.
- Extra fee¥500 garden admission per person on top of the meal. No service charge.
- How to bookOnline form (asks for 3 days’ notice) or phone 075-882-9725, 9:00–17:00. A form booking is confirmed only when staff email you back, which can take a few days, so book early.
- Cancelling50% of the meal price the day before, 100% on the day.
- PayingCards are accepted for meals, not for admission. Note allergies when booking.
Tickets, hours and autumn dates
| Ticket | Adult (high school+) | Elementary & junior high | Preschool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden | ¥500 | ¥300 | Free |
| Garden + buildings | ¥800 | ¥600 | Not stated |
| Cloud Dragon (Hatto) | ¥500 | ¥500 | Free |
- HoursGarden 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:50). Buildings 8:30–16:45 (last entry 16:30). From 14 to 30 November 2026 the garden entrance opens at 7:30 for the autumn colours; the North Gate still opens at 8:30.
- Cloud Dragon painting9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:20) on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and daily from 19 September to 6 December 2026. It can close for ceremonies, typhoons or extreme heat.
- ClosuresBuildings closed until about 11:30 on 29 October and about 12:30 on 30 October 2026. Hatto closed all day on 28 and 29 October, until about 12:45 on 30 October, and on 2 January 2027. The temple notes that other ceremony days can also close them.
The Sagano railway puts the autumn leaves along its line at mid-November to early December; see Kyoto autumn leaves 2026 for timing.
Getting there
- Randen Arashiyama Station5-minute walk, the closest.
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station13-minute walk.
- Hankyu Arashiyama Station15-minute walk.
- BusCity Bus 11, 28 or 93 to Arashiyama Tenryu-ji Mae, or Kyoto Bus 61, 72 or 83 to Keifuku Arashiyama Ekimae. Both stops are in front of the temple.
Add the Sagano Romantic Train
The retro Sagano Romantic Train (Torokko) is the classic add-on. It takes about 25 minutes between Torokko Saga and Torokko Kameoka, through the Hozu Ravine. Torokko Arashiyama Station opens straight onto the bamboo path: turn left out of the station. It has 60 steps between the ticket gate and the platform and no lift, so the operator suggests Torokko Saga for wheelchair users.
Last runs for the current trains: the operator says the present carriages retire after 29 December 2026, with new trains due in spring 2027. There is no service on 16 December 2026.
- Towards KameokaTorokko Saga every hour at :02 from 9:02 to 16:02; Torokko Arashiyama 3 minutes later; Kameoka arrival at :25.
- Back from KameokaEvery hour at :30 from 9:30 to 16:30; Arashiyama at :53 (17:01 for the 16:30); Saga 3 minutes later.
Regular trains from the operator’s 2026 timetable (edited 14 March 2026). Extra trains run on set dates in autumn 2026 (trains 81/82 on 24 October–13 December and 26–27 December; trains 91/92 on 14–30 November and 5–6 December), and an evening light-up runs from 24 October to 29 December. Some days are out of service, so check the operator’s calendar for your date.
- TicketsSeats are reserved; if they sell out, stations sell standing tickets on the day. Online sales open at 0:00 Japan time one month ahead, up to 8 per booking; stations sell same-day tickets. We could not read the fares on the official site, so check them there.
- Hozugawa river boatSame-day boat bookings are sold at the Hozugawa Kudari Corner in Torokko Saga Station (see the FAQ).
For how a morning at Tenryu-ji fits a wider trip, see our 3-day Kyoto itinerary.
FAQ
Do I need to book zazen at Tenryu-ji?
No. Tenryu-ji says its Zazen-kai is free for individual participants, needs no reservation and welcomes beginners. It runs from 9:00 to 10:00 on the second Sunday of every month except February, July and August.
Can children join?
Tenryu-ji does not say whether children can take part in zazen-kai or sutra copying, so ask the temple first. The garden costs ¥300 for elementary and junior-high students and is free for preschoolers. Tenryu-ji does not publish children’s prices for sutra copying or Shigetsu meals; on the Shigetsu form you note any children and whether they need a meal.
What is the cancellation policy, and what if it rains?
Shigetsu charges 50% of the meal price for cancelling the day before and 100% on the day. Sagano Romantic Train tickets bought online can be cancelled free until 23:59 the day before, with no refunds on the day. The open-air car No. 5 can get wet, gets no refunds for rain, and umbrellas are not allowed on board.
Can I bring luggage?
Tenryu-ji’s site gives no luggage rules, so ask the temple. The Sagano Romantic Train takes items up to about 120 cm in total dimensions free, but nothing longer than 1 metre.
Is anything different in winter?
Zazen-kai is not held in February. In 2026 Shigetsu served a special winter menu from 3 January to 1 March, and the Sagano Romantic Train did not run in January or February. The current Sagano trains retire after 29 December 2026 and new trains are due in spring 2027; the 2027 schedules were not out when we checked.
Can I add the Hozugawa river boat ride?
The Sagano Scenic Railway says there is no combined discount, but you can book same-day boat rides at the Hozugawa Kudari Corner inside Torokko Saga Station. We could not access the boat operator’s site, so check its fares and times there.
Does the JR Pass cover the Sagano Romantic Train?
No. The operator says the JR Pass cannot be used. Station counters take cash, major credit cards and IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica.
Corrected 10 October 2026 (half-day closures on 29–30 October, building hours, bus stops, Sagano train retirement and extra trains) against Tenryu-ji’s Japanese visiting and Cloud Dragon pages and the Sagano Scenic Railway’s 18 September 2026 press release. First checked 7 October 2026 against Tenryu-ji’s official site (visiting, events, Cloud Dragon, Shigetsu and booking-form pages, and its 2026 events calendar) and the Sagano Scenic Railway’s official site (FAQ, fares page, seats page and 2026 timetable edited 14 March 2026). The Hozugawa river boat’s official site could not be accessed, so no boat fares or times are given.
