Ryoan-ji, perhaps the most famous of the Zen gardens, is mostly raked white gravel. It has 15 stones but they are never all visible from a single vantage point. The image I got before actually going here was one of Zen serenity.
The reality is that, since it is the most famous Zen garden, it is also usually crowded. This visit was even less serene due to the roof repairs that required scaffolding around the temple and a "stage" over the usual veranda for viewers.
Despite the crowds, the larger landscape garden was fascinating. I have never seen trees pruned like this before:
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