Kyoto’s Popular Retro Photo Spot with a lot of Brick Arch – Nanzenji Temple “Suirokaku” Which Has Been Used for Over 130 Years

“Nanzenji Temple” represents Kyoto City Sakyo-ku, as well as Ginkaku-ji, Kifune Shrine and Rurikoin. While it’s the highest zen temple in Japan, do you know the retro western architecture built in the Meiji period (1868-1912) in the precincts? The name is “Suirokaku”(水路閣). It still has been used as a waterway and is also a popular photo spot.

“Suirokaku” is located in a place rich in nature, and is in the back of the precincts of Nanzenji Temple. In the waterway flowing there, the water is drawn from Lake Biwa branches in Keage and passes through the inside of Nanzenji Temple along with Mt. Nyoigatake, which is famous for Daimonji no Okuribi (大文字の送り火, a ceremonial bonfire of Kyoto). And this canal flows to the Tetsugaku no Michi (哲学の道, Philosopher’s Path) near Ginkaku-ji.

Construction of the waterway began in 1885 for hydropower, irrigation and fire protection, and was completed in 1890. When the construction, it is arranged so that the landscape isn’t broken by its design because there are shrines and temples along the canal.

The Suirokaku inside of the Nanenji Temple was built in a brick Roman style.  It measured with a length of the extension of 93.17 meters, a width of 4.06 meters, and a channel width of 2.42 meters. The nostalgic scenery with a lot of retro arched piers made of brick and granite has been famous as a location for drama and photo spots. The aqueduct, whose natural texture has increased over the years and makes you forget the time and fascinated.

The canal still has been active more than 130 years after its completion. You can actually see the flow of water at the Suirokaku. Kyoto has fascinated people through the large-scale construction in the Meiji period. Why not experience the rich flow of water?