Nanzenji Temple and Aqueduct

The Keage Incline is a long, sloping stone track that rises through the hillside, flanked by cherry trees and rusted iron rails. It served as a vital water transport link for the Lake Biwa Canal, allowing flat-bottomed boats to bypass the…

The Lake Biwa Canal Museum features a bright red, arched brick aqueduct that extends directly through the property. This structure remains part of a nineteenth century industrial project designed to carry water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto.…

The Konchi-in Temple is marked by a massive gate that stands tall even against the towering trees surrounding it. This sub-temple of Nanzen-ji served as a political powerhouse during the early seventeenth century. Its abbot, Ishin Suden,…

The wooden gate at Tenjuan features a distinctive weathered texture and a simple, austere design that marks the entrance to this sub-temple of Nanzenji. Established in the fourteenth century, the site honors the Zen master Kanzan Egen.…

The Sanmon Gate at Nanzen-ji stands nearly seventy-two feet tall, built entirely of dark, weathered wood that seems to absorb the surrounding light. It was commissioned in sixteen twenty-eight by Todo Takatora to honor soldiers who died in…

The Hojo Garden at Nanzenji features a stark expanse of white raked gravel punctuated by several large, moss-covered stones arranged in groups. These rocks are meant to represent a tiger leading cubs across a river, a scene known as the…

The Suirokaku Water Bridge is a brick aqueduct with wide, heavy arches that cuts directly through the grounds of Nanzenji Temple. It was finished in eighteen eighty-eight as part of the Lake Biwa Canal project, designed to carry water from…