The Ganko Sushi chain of restaurants bought this old villa and opened a high quality and low price outdoor yuka restaurant here in 1995. The villa was originally the home of Ryoi Suminokura, a wealthy merchant in the 15th and 16th centuries. Later, Aritomo Yamagata, the statesman who also created Murin-an and one of the founders of the Meiji government, lived here and transformed the garden. The site is about 3,300 sq meters, of which 2,600 sq meters is the garden. The original garden was created by Kobori Enshu and then later modified by the prominent Meiji garden builder, Ogawa Jihei under the guidance of Yamagata.
The garden itself is composed of a winding stream, interspersed with trees and stone lanterns. A path winds through the site and it is beautifully lit, making it a wonderful place for an after-dinner stroll.
For yuka meals, you are expected to arrive between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Other lunches and dinners are also offered. It is located a five-minute walk from Sanjo Keihan Station.
Note: While yuka-style restaurants usually cost a minimum of 20-30,000 yen, this one manages to serve high quality food and drink for a maximum of 12,000 yen. A real bargain for such cuisine.
In the shadow of the rocks
The pond water
Glows with the color
Of Andromeda flowers.
Must these fall?
Iso kage no
Miyuru ike mizu
Teru made ni
Sakeru ashibi no
Chiramaku oshi mo
Ikako no Mabito Manyôshuû, vol. 20, no. 4513 trans. by M.V. Otake
