Nanzen-ji holds a formal rank above even the Gozan ("five mountains") system as the highest-ranked Zen temple in Japan, a legacy of its origins as a retired emperor's villa converted to a temple in the late 13th century.
The San-mon gate
The temple's massive wooden entrance gate can be climbed via a narrow internal staircase, opening onto a viewing platform over the surrounding rooftops and forest — a genuinely worthwhile detour most visitors skip, for a modest additional fee.
The aqueduct
Nanzen-ji's most unexpected feature is Suirokaku, a red-brick Meiji-era aqueduct that cuts directly through the temple grounds, built in the late 19th century to carry water and power from Lake Biwa into Kyoto. The juxtaposition of Western industrial engineering against traditional temple architecture is jarring in a good way, and it's become one of the most photographed spots on the grounds.
The sub-temple gardens
Like many major Zen temples, Nanzen-ji's grounds include several sub-temples with their own separately ticketed gardens — Konchi-in in particular is known for a well-regarded dry garden, and draws a fraction of the main complex's crowds.