Rinzai Gokkaku

Rinzai Gokkaku is a traditional Japanese Zen Buddhist temple affiliated with the Rinzai school, founded in Kyoto in the 16th century. It serves as a spiritual center emphasizing meditation (zazen), direct insight, and koan practice—paradoxical riddles used to provoke enlightenment. The temple is known for its historic architecture, cultural significance, and role in preserving Zen teachings. Today, it functions as both a place for practice and a cultural site, attracting practitioners and visitors interested in exploring Zen philosophy and aesthetics within a centuries-old sacred environment.