Shoren-in

Shoren-in is a refined temple in eastern Kyoto historically linked to the imperial family, several of whose members served as its head priests. Giant camphor trees, believed to be around eight hundred years old, spread over the entrance and are among the most photographed in the city. Inside, tatami rooms open onto a strolling garden with a pond, mossy banks, and a bamboo grove. In certain seasons the grounds are illuminated at night, casting a soft glow that makes the temple one of Kyoto's quieter evening pleasures.