The main attraction, as far as the guide books are concerned, are the strolling gardens and the spectacular grove of around two thousand towering moso bamboo grasses, Phyllostachys edulis, the world’s largest growing and hardiest bamboo, which grow to a height of around 28 metres. Maybe it was just the time of year, but the temple lies slightly off the beaten track makes a visit there a quieter, tranquil and correspondingly more enjoyable experience than you’ll find in some of the more easily accessible locations.
Visit in prime sakura season, or when the coloured leaves are at their best, and you’ll probably find yourself being jostled, but in early December there were still coloured leaves to be seen on the trees, and the red, yellow and brown carpet around the base of the trees made for an interesting meditation on transience and regeneration.