Owned by a temple up to the end of the Edo Era
Yoshiki-en Garden was once part of the grounds of Manishu-en, a sub-temple of Kofuku-ji Temple, until the end of the Edo Era, but following the Meiji Restoration around 1868, the special privileges that the temple had were revoked, and with the anti-Buddhist movement to distance itself from Shinto and Buddhism, the temple became the residence of a private businessman, and the current building and garden were built in 1919. Afterwards, it was used as a corporate guest house for visitors, and currently it is under the ownership of Nara Prefecture and is open to the public. Within the 9000 square-meter grounds, there are structures such as a 2-floor main house and a warehouse interspersed with a pond garden, a moss garden and a garden with seasonal flowers used in the tea ceremony. Inside the moss garden, there is a separate tea house.
The pond garden constructed to blend in with the house
The pond garden that spreads in front of the main house skillfully incorporates the curves that bring alive the undulating topography and is built so that it becomes one with the house. From the slightly elevated Azumaya, Mt. Wakakusa can be seen off in the distance along with the whole of the pond garden. The moss garden has an abundance of ground water arteries which feeds the ground which is ideal for the growing haircap moss that covers the entire garden. In the autumn, there is a carpet of bright red leaves and from the thatched tea house, a beautiful landscape spreads out. In the teahouse garden, flowers that bring a sense of the seasons to the tea ceremony are planted there and the diverse scenes throughout the seasons can be viewed. The clear waters of the Yoshiki River, written about in the Manyoshu collection of poetry, flow inside the garden as it splendidly harmonizes with nature. The tea house can be reserved for a charge and tea parties are sometimes held.
A garden following the direction of water and rock
Next to Yoshiki-en Garden is the Isui-en Garden, and along with the two gardens built in the separate eras of Edo and Meiji, there is the art museum, Neiraku, which exhibits art from ancient China and Japanese tea utensils along with other items. You can enjoy the garden following the direction of water and rock which has a different attraction from the calm atmosphere of Yoshiki-en Garden. Why not extend your trip and spend a relaxing time here?