Formerly a villa for Emperor Shirakawa (Heian period), the site has a long history, but the gardens are quite recent, all built in the 20th century. The three gardens are intended to represent three periods of time: Heian, Muromachi/Momoyama and Modern. The Heian garden is constructed in the Shinden style with two streams leading to a pond, an island in the middle of the pond and a waterfall flowing down a hill. The Muromachi/Momoyama garden has a pond with a tea house and a rock garden. The modern garden has clipped hedges around a pool with a fountain. Marc Treib and Ron Herman suggest that cherry trees, azaleas and wisteria make a spring visit worthwhile and that the temple suggests visiting in the late afternoon as the best time.
Spring rain:
Telling a tale as they go
Straw cape, umbrella.
Buson Yosa trans. by Brownas and Thwaite Edo period
