🍜 Tenryuji Directly Operated Shojin Cuisine Restaurant - Shigetsu

Tenryu-ji is a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect and is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Cultural Properties of Ancient Kyoto." The garden of the Sogen Pond, built by the first abbot, Muso Soseki, is a pond-and-scenery style garden that surrounds the Sogen Pond. The beautiful landscape created by the backdrop of Arashiyama and Kameyama has been designated as a national special scenic spot and historic site. "Shiyugetsu" is a restaurant directly operated by Tenryu-ji, where you can dine in a study adjacent to a garden that retains the appearance from the time of its construction. The restaurant serves vegetarian dishes primarily made from vegetables, wild plants, and seaweed, completely free of animal products. The meals showcase the characteristics of the ingredients and adhere to the Zen Buddhist principle of "integrating with nature," offering healthy cuisine. There are three meal options: "Yuki" with five dishes and one soup, "Tsuki" with six dishes and one soup, and "Hana" with seven dishes and one soup. "Hana" and "Tsuki" require a minimum of two people to order and must be reserved one day in advance. In addition to the seasonal dishes made with fresh ingredients, the garden's scenery, which changes with the seasons—new green leaves, autumn foliage, and snowy landscapes—never fails to enchant. Besides the dining costs, there is an additional fee for visiting the Sogen Pond garden and the Hyakka-en garden.

A vegetarian restaurant located in the heart of the World Heritage site, Tenryu-ji. It offers vegetarian dishes made with seasonal plant-based ingredients. In addition to the dining fees, there is an additional entrance fee to access the garden area.