Temple complex Tōfuku-ji was founded in the XIII century, it survives today in the form of what became after reconstruction in 1890, and its famous gardens - in fact, in which they recreated a master of landscape art Mirai Shigemori in 1939. The monastery is located in the southeast of Kyoto.

Temple, which became the basis of the whole complex, laid down in 1236 by order of the monk Annie major policy Kamakura Kudzё Mitiie. Buddhist monk belonged to the Rinzai school and was trained in China. Upon returning to Japan, he founded the Temple, whose name is derived from the combination of the names of the two temples in Nara - Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji. Earlier, as a part of the monastery, there were more than fifty churches, now - only 24.

Sammon Gate of the temple are considered among the most ancient gates of Japanese temples and Zen Buddhism have the status of national treasure. Their height - 22 meters, and triple design symbolizes freedom from desires and conventional thinking through initiation to Zen. The temple is also listed as a World Heritage Site.

At the monastery there are several gardens, the most famous of which - North, South, East and West, as well as a garden Hojo. Each has its concept and in its own interest.

Northern Area Garden resembles a chessboard on which the squares of moss alternate with stone tiles. South and East are rock gardens. In the first group there are four stones in the gravel pad. Location of stones in the second repeating pattern of stars in the constellation Ursa Major. To the East of the garden used stones that were in the basis of the foundations of the buildings of the temple. In the Western garden grow azaleas, shrubs, bonsai, which are interspersed with islands of moss. In the garden, located next to the building for the servants of the temple (Hojo) areas decorated with gravel and moss alternate with azalea bush, which shaped box.

The temple attracts many visitors in the fall when the leaves turn red maples, and the monastery became one of the most picturesque parts of Kyoto.