Ryōan-ji (竜安寺) (Kyoto, Japan)

Ryōan-ji (or The Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is a Zen temple in northwest Kyoto (aka a LONG bike ride from Toji). It used to be the Fujiwara family estate before the Onin War (1467-1477) and then was converted into a Zen temple. Today, the temple is synonymous with Kyoto's most famous Zen Rock Garden. According to Wikipedia, "The garden consists of raked gravel and fifteen moss-covered boulders, which are placed so that, when looking at the garden from any angle (other than from above) only fourteen of the boulders are visible at one time. It is traditionally said that only through attaining enlightenment would one be able to view the fifteenth boulder." Heady.