Patrick Vierthaler
Myōshin-ji Keishun-in
妙心寺 桂春院
Keishun-in is one of Myōshin-ji’s many sub-temples. Perhaps one of Kyoto’s lesser-known gardens, it usually is very quiet and one of the few remaining places where the visitor can just sit down and fully immerse yourself in the surrounding landscape.
The highlight of this temple — at least in my opinion — is the Wabi Garden 侘の庭 (the “garden of simplicity”), which is best enjoyed from the small tearoom. On rainy days, you get the feeling to be somewhere in a deep forest, so lush and green is the scenery in front of you. Unfortunately — once again in my opinion — the temple has recently (2020) added a small lamp in the tearoom, which is quite popular with Japanese Instagrammers, but has taken away some of the magic previously found in the temple.
Autumn foliage at this temple tends to be very late, and the trees do not turn red.
Admission: open year-round
Nearby places of interest: Taizō-in, Daihō-in, Daishin-in, Tōrin-in
Rainy season. My personal favorite memory of all Kyōto.