The walled rock garden has a rectangular perimeter, with trees acting as a natural backdrop. There are fifteen stones of various sizes and shapes arranged into several clusters amongst a pit of whitish raked sand (the number "15" represents completeness in Buddhism). Some of the stones are covered by a bit of green moss. The stones have been placed in such a way that it is impossible (except by overhead view) to see all fifteen stones at one time, as one may be "hiding" behind another from certain vantage points. It is believed that the rock garden is a "riddle" created by the Zen masters to test and enlighten their students. It is like a Zen Rorschach test to see what the garden means to you and what it appears to represent to you. For the standard viewer, this all looks like just a bunch of rocks, but it is still interesting to enter the Zen thought process just a wee bit.

The main building of the temple is called the Kuri, which plays second fiddle to the dry garden. Look for the Tsukubai, a stone water basin inscribed with a significant Zen thought: "I learn only to be contented". The accompanying lake-garden is called Kyoyochi Pond and actually dates back to the 12th Century in one form or another. There is a small restaurant next to the pond.

Upon entering Ryoan-ji, you notice a large pond to the left. We visited in early April, and were amply rewarded by sights of majestic cherry trees, in full blossoms, with laden branches gracefully giving offerings to the water beneath. Through the branches, one can glimpse turtles and swans languorously sunning on the rocks. Most visitors pass by this pond fairly quickly, heading straight for the dry landscape garden. However, many flora and fauna can be discovered around this lake if you wish to.

The famous rock garden is surrounded by earthen walls in three directions and faced with the corridor of the Hojo building. In the rectangular space measuring 30 by 78 feet, and contains, 15 rocks of various sizes are arranged on white sand in five groups, each comprising five, two, three, two, and three rocks. The most popular explanation of this garden is that the rocks represent a mother tiger and her cubs, swimming in the river of the white sand toward a fearful dragon. Others have said that the gardens resembled at point rice fields, and at others the undulating sea. Yet others have said that the garden might well be called "The Garden of Nothingness" for its very austerity. Ryoan-ji is famous for being very, very crowded, and one guidebook I read warned that in some seasons, one can not even get through the visitors to get even a glimpse of the garden. I have to admit that we must have been extremely lucky, for even dead in the middle of cherry blossoms season, only five other visitors were in the garden. No need to say that we found a gorgeous, bright pink cherry blossom tree drooping just over the wall of the rock garden, lending the otherwise austere garden the spirit of spring and renewal.