The most famous rock garden in Japan, Ryoan Ji is almost 3,000 square feet in size and is part of a large temple complex that shares the same name. Believed to have been constructed around the year 1500, the rock garden is made up of 15 small boulders sitting on a bed of white gravel that is carefully raked by the monks every day. The garden is arranged so that it's only ever possible to see 14 of the boulders at a time, but legend has it that anyone who achieves enlightenment will be able to see all 15 at once.
13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 616-8001, Phone: +8-17-54-63-22-16