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Enjoy the scenery of the season and vegetarian cuisine |
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Recently, many temples have started experience-based tours of life at the temples, including sutra copying and zazen (zen meditation) courses. Some have courses that include the opportunity to enjoy the food eaten by the monks at the temple, called shojin ryori (Buddhist or vegetarian cuisine). Shojin ryori is a high protein, low-calorie diet, so it has drawn a lot of attention in the nutrition field for its health benefits.
Accordingly, here at Ryoan-ji Temple too, you can sample the vegetarian cuisine at the pagoda of the high priest, called Seigen-in, located near the Kyoyochi Pond. This is the perfect place to enjoy both the plants cultivated by the successive generations of the head priests of the temple and the vegetarian cuisine.
Among the dishes available is nanakusa yudofu, a dish with seven ingredients, including “fine silk” tofu, the main ingredient, and fu, a bread-like food made of wheat gluten. So, while this yudofu dish is vegetarian, it is quite filling, and it is the most popular item on the menu. You can also order a course including gomadofu, tofu made with crushed sesame seeds, shiraai, made by mixing white and sesame tofu with sugar, salt, vinegar and white miso, and takiawase, a set of boiled fish and vegetables.
While looking out on the garden, with the bamboo shishiodoshi adding its sharp sound occasionally, there is no doubt you will enjoy the food at Seigen-in, and be quite full when you’ve finished. Go to the reception desk in front of the Sanmon Main Gate and tell the receptionist you want to go to the Seigen-in for a meal, and they will let you into the temple grounds. You should certainly consider trying this cuisine if you are nearby at lunchtime. |
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| Open: |
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Contact: |
075-462-4742 |
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Nanakusa yudofu
(boiled tofu with seven spring-herbs and other ingredients) 1,500 yen |
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Vegetarian course with
nanakusa yudofu 3,300 yen |
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