YamaguchiTravel

Appreciate a Masterpiece Garden Allegedly Designed by Master Painter Sesshu from the Temple Veranda

About this spot

A stroll-garden with central pond, said to have been created by the master painter Sesshu for the villa gardens of Ouchi Masahiro, a daimyo of the Muromachi period. It is designated as both a Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty by the nation. The approximately three-thousand-tsubo garden spanning three mountains is arranged with rock formations encircling the central Shinjigata Pond, interspersed with standing stones that also evoke the essence of dry landscape design. Often described as an ink wash painting transformed into three-dimensional form, sitting on the temple's engawa and gazing upon it will cause you to lose all sense of time. With each season—fresh green, deep green, autumn leaves, and snow—the garden reveals a different face, and its ever-changing beauty is part of its charm. There is also a circumambulatory pathway around the garden, allowing you to savor Sesshu's artistry from varying perspectives.

Tips

Free parking is available. Viewing from the temple's engawa is the essence of this garden, so allow ample time for your visit. The circumambulatory path consists of gravel and earth, so wear comfortable shoes. Located in the mountains about 15 minutes by car from the city center, in the afternoon, light falls upon the entire garden, making the stone arrangements appear three-dimensional.