Shisen-do is a small temple and former retreat built in 1641 for the poet and scholar Jozan Ishikawa. Inside are portraits of 36 Chinese poets, while the garden outside is known for clipped azaleas, changing seasonal color, and a calmer mood than Kyoto's headline temples.
It is a good stop if you are already exploring northern Higashiyama or the Shugakuin and Ichijoji area. The appeal is quiet rather than grand: a contemplative garden, literary history, and a break from the busier temple circuits.