Tenryu-ji Directly Managed Shojin Cuisine Restaurant Shigetsu

Tenryu-ji, a Zen temple of the Rinzai school, is part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" and is registered as a World Heritage Site. Located within its precincts, the Sogenchi Garden, created by the temple's first chief priest, Muso Soseki, is a pond-strolling garden centered around Sogen Pond. Known for its stunning views, including the borrowed landscapes of Arashiyama and Kameyama, it is designated as a special place of scenic beauty and historic site of Japan.

Shigetsu, a temple-operated restaurant adjacent to the garden, allows dining in a hall that retains the ambiance from the time of its creation. The shojin cuisine served here is made entirely from plant-based ingredients, focusing on vegetables, wild plants, and seaweeds, in line with Zen Buddhist teachings of harmony with nature. The menu includes "Snow" with one soup and five dishes, "Moon" with one soup and six dishes, and "Flower" with one soup and seven dishes. "Moon" and "Flower" require reservations at least one day in advance and are available for orders starting from two people.

The dishes, prepared with seasonal ingredients, offer a fresh experience with every visit, as the garden view changes with the seasons, showcasing new greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy landscapes. In addition to the meal cost, a separate admission fee is required for the Sogen Pond Garden and other garden areas within Tenryu-ji.