Shisendo

Early morning is the best time to visit this temple. Much fewer visitors of course, but at the Eastern foot of the mountains, this temple doesn't get much light in the dim of winter morning and it helps to create tranquility that you can appreciate. As the morning lights grow, you will see the magical transformation that the lights can play; gradually the rays spreading over the garden and it is spectacular to witness this precious moment.

I usually sit on the veranda and look out the garden. I often find myself enjoying seeing into the details of the garden views. From this garden you can see the mountains, which create a perfect backdrop to the view in a harmony between man-made garden and super Mother Nature mountain views.

Shisendo's garden is famous for the Satsuki Azaleas, but I really like the seasons of early summer of fresh green and autumn with the beautiful passionate colors of leaves the best. In the season of autumn leaves, the best time to visit is at dusk. If you stay till just about they close, again will be fewer people there, and you can enjoy the beautiful light shows as the sunlight spilled over the entire garden.

In the summer, I also like to come in the early morning. Kyoto's summer lights during the day can be harsh and too strong to enjoy the garden. Daytime on cloudy or rainy days is also gorgeous and nice as you can see the beautiful green foliage lit by soft dimmed lights. On the other hand, the garden in winter has a humble color palette, with the highlights of the red camellias blooming, and the garden becomes more to itself; a Zen temple. It is breath-taking view in the late afternoon as the low sunbeams from the west, quickly filling in the entire temple.
(Mitsuyuki Nakajima)