Yoshikien Garden

Yoshikien Garden is a Japanese garden located in Nara City, in a corner of Nara Park. According to an old picture map of Kōfuku-ji, the site is believed to have once been the location of Manijū-in, a sub-temple of Kōfuku-ji. The property became privately owned in the Meiji period, and the current buildings and garden were created in 1919 (Taishō 8). After a period of use as a corporate guesthouse, the garden came under Nara Prefecture’s ownership in the late Shōwa era and was opened to the public. With Mount Kasuga and Mount Wakakusa as a backdrop, the garden skillfully incorporates natural undulations and curves, and consists of three areas: the Pond Garden, the Moss Garden, and the Tea-Flower Garden. East of the teahouse is a quiet space covered in Japanese cedar moss, surrounded by maple trees that add fresh greenery in spring and vivid color in autumn. The teahouse is a thatched, single-story wooden structure, and it can be rented for a fee for tea gatherings, including outdoor tea (nodate). The former Shōbō-in residence within the grounds, along with the detached teahouse, is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture. Located close to Tōdai-ji Temple and the National Museum, Yoshikien is recommended for those who want to enjoy a peaceful garden setting.