Mirei Shigemori Garden Museum（重森三玲邸）
A bold fusion of modern garden design and Edo-period tradition in the heart of Kyoto Hidden in Kyoto’s quiet Sakyo Ward, the Mirei Shigemori Garden Museum offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation. The house itself is a machiya—a wooden townhouse built in 1789, during the late Edo period. In 1943, Mirei Shigemori, one […]
Komyo-in (Tofuku-ji)（光明院）
A Hidden Zen Gem with Shigemori’s Masterpiece Garden Kōmyō-in, a peaceful sub-temple of Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto, was founded in 1391 during the Muromachi period by Kinzan Myōshō, a respected Rinzai Zen monk. Although some temple buildings were destroyed during the anti-Buddhist movement in the Meiji era, the temple was restored by 1911. In 1939, the […]
Zuiho-in (Daitoku-ji)（瑞峯院）
A Zen Garden Rooted in Christian History Zuihō-in, part of the Daitoku-ji temple complex in Kyoto, stands out not only for its striking gardens but also for its unusual origins. It was founded in 1546 by Ōtomo Sōrin, a powerful Christian daimyo, as his family temple. Remarkably, Zuihō-in still preserves its original architecture, having survived […]
Saiho-ji (Koke-dera)（西芳寺 (苔寺)）
Kyoto’s Legendary Moss Temple and Masterpiece of Zen Garden Design The garden of Saihō-ji is considered by many to be Kyoto’s most beautiful garden and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is especially famous for its lush moss garden, which has earned it the popular name Koke-dera (苔寺), or Moss Temple. In […]
Tokyo National Museum（東京国立博物館）
A hidden garden filled with history and traditional teahouses The Tokyo National Museum Garden in Ueno Park offers more than just seasonal beauty. It also preserves five historic buildings, each relocated from various parts of Japan. One highlight is Tengōan (転合庵), a teahouse originally designed in Kyoto by the famous tea master Kobori Enshū (小堀遠州). […]
Funda-in (Tofuku-ji)（芬陀院 東福寺）
A Quiet Temple with a Garden by Sesshū Funda-in is a serene sub-temple of Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto, often missed by visitors heading to the main hall or better-known sub-temples. However, those who take the time to explore it are rewarded with historical depth and refined garden design. Founded in 1321 during the Kamakura period, Funda-in […]
Asakura-choso-kan（朝倉彫塑館）
The Sculptor’s Sanctuary in Tokyo’s Yanaka District Asakura Chōso-kan is a hidden gem in Tokyo’s Yanaka district. Once the home and studio of renowned sculptor Fumio Asakura (1883–1964), the building now serves as a museum. It blends Western and Japanese design and houses both artwork and personal relics from the artist’s life. Asakura designed the […]
Kyu-Asakurake House（旧朝倉家住宅）
A Tranquil Taishō-Era Retreat in Shibuya Nestled amidst the vibrant streets of Shibuya, the Kyū-Asakura House offers a serene glimpse into early 20th-century Japan. Constructed in 1919 by Torajirō Asakura, a prominent politician and chairman of the Tokyo Prefectural Assembly, this two-story wooden residence exemplifies Taishō-era architecture. Remarkably, it withstood both the Great Kantō Earthquake […]
Daisen-in (Daitoku-ji)（大徳寺、大仙院）
A Zen Garden Journey Through Life Do you want to experience Zen Buddhist philosophy firsthand and meet a Zen priest who might even make you laugh? Do you want to walk the same paths where key figures of Japanese history once lived and trained? Then Daitoku-ji and its sub-temple Daisen-in in northern Kyoto are the […]
Jomyo-ji（浄妙寺）
A Zen Retreat with Ashikaga Legacy and Garden Tranquility Tucked into the eastern hills of Kamakura, Jōmyō-ji stands as the fifth temple of the Kamakura Gozan, the Five Great Zen Temples. Founded in 1188 by Ashikaga Yoshikane, a samurai who served Minamoto no Yoritomo, the temple began as a Mikkyō (esoteric Buddhism) temple named Gokuraku-ji. […]