Shosei-en

Shosei-en is a small Japanese garden located a few blocks east of Higashi Hongan-ji, a large Buddhist temple in the center of Kyoto.

In fact, Shosei-en is a detached residence with a large pond stroll garden that was originally constructed as a retreat for the chief monk Sen’yo (1602-1658). The land was donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1641.

There are many features within the garden, including teahouses, stone bridges, a wooden bridge called Shiniestu-kyo, a covered bridge, several small islands, stone lanterns, and an unusual wall made of fragments from other structures - including a stone mill.

I chose this as my last garden to visit because it was located so close to the hostel where I was staying. Although none of the buildings were open when I visited, the grounds made for a lovely way to spend my afternoon, even in the rain.

Tofuku-ji

Tofuku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1236. The buildings on the grounds are a mixture of original, reconstruction, and more recent construction.

The Hojo (head monk’s living quarters) is surrounded on all four sides by rock gardens, each with its own character. The southern Garden is a dry-stone garden, the western garden contains moss and azalea shrubs trimmed into a checkered pattern, the northern garden contains square-cut stones and patches of moss in a checkered pattern, and the eastern garden has seven cylindrical stones arranged in a field of moss. 

The Tsutenkyo Bridge spans a valley of maple trees and is a spectacular site to see. Crossing it brings one to a variety of shrines, including the Kaisando Hall, a mausoleum for the temple’s first head monk. The stone path in front of Kaisando is flanked by contrasting gardens on both sides. On the left is a dry rock garden, and on the right, a lush pond garden. These gardens  were built during the Edo Period (1603-1867). 

Kodai-ji

Kodai-ji is a temple in the Higashiyama District established in 1606 in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who helped unite Japan in 1590.

Two Zen gardens surround the Hojo (main hall). One is a rock garden consisting of a large field of raked gravel meant to represent the vast ocean. The other garden is a Tsukiyama style garden featuring pine and maple trees, a pond, man made hills, and decorative rocks. Within this garden is also the Kaizando (memorial hall) that contains images of  Hideyoshi and his wife, Nene.

A path along the hillside passes by two teahouses and eventually leads through an extensive bamboo grove before arriving at a series of steps that lead out of the temple complex into the Higashiyama District. 

Chion-in

Chion-in is the head temple of the Jodo sect (Pure Land) of Japanese Buddhism, one of the most popular sects in Japan.

One enters via the Sanmon Gate which stands  78 feet tall and 164 feet wide. It is the largest wooden gate in Japan dating back to the early 1600s. Also on site is the Ogane, a large bell that is 10.8 feet in height, 8 feet in diameter, and weighs 70 tons. The bell was cast in 1636 and was the largest in the world during the 17th to 19th centuries. It takes 17 monks to ring. 

Unfortunately for me, the main hall, which can seat 3,000 people, was under restoration while I visited and closed to the public. However, I was able to view a number of other shrines and structures throughout the large complex.

The gardens of Chion-in consist of the Hojo garden which surrounds a pond shaped like the Chinese character for  heart. There is a dry garden with interesting shrubbery mixed with stones. In addition, there was the Yuzen-en garden which was redesigned in 1954 and consists of two gardens, a pond, and dry rock garden. There are also two teahouses within these gardens.