Kyoto's Tofuku-ji Temple

Kyoto's Tofuku-ji Temple combines size and beauty in ways that are hard to find in other areas of Japan. First, there is the impressive Sammon Gate, a National Treasure, and the oldest of its kind in Japan. If you want to take a photo of the entire gate, be prepared to step way back - it's just so massive. Yet, it is delicate and beautiful at the same time. This temple is the head temple of the Tofukuji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and has a very long history, going all the way back to 1236. While here, also enjoy the fairly new and delightfully unique Hojo Garden, laid out in 1939.