Toji-in Temple has two amazing gardens designed by Muso Soseki: The delicate west garden and the secluded east garden. When you sit in the tatami room, the bright and delicate west garden will be pleasing to the eyes. Go out and up the hill to see the view from beside the teahouse. It is nice to feel a bird’s-eye view, even though the garden itself is not really large. Then walk deeper into the part of the garden surrounded by a grove of trees. The path becomes narrow and the trees block your view, as if you are lost in the forest. Here you will find the east garden. As you make your dark way along the pond, you will suddenly find yourself at the bright west garden again, but from a different direction. It’s like a sonata garden!
             - 1 min read        
        Kyoto Toji-in Temple
Muso Soseki’s garden sonata
 
            Community writer                            
                    
     
                            
                            
                                Dharma picture screen                            
                         
                            
                            
                                A teahouse and pond in the west garden, viewed from behind the main building                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Seiren-tei teahouse at the top of the hill                            
                         
                            
                            
                                The pond, from the east garden                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Beautiful moss garden scattered with petals                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Shoebox and hanging bamboo hat                            
                         
                            
                            
                                View from the top of the hill                            
                         
                            
                            
                                From the tatami room                            
                         
                            
                            
                                The east garden feels secluded                            
                         
                            
                            
                                The path becomes narrow and the trees block your view                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Stone bridge over the pond                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Grave of Ashikaga Takauji (the first Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate)                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Vivid pink camellias                            
                         
                            
                            
                                Pink camellias on the moss-covered ground                            
                         
                            
                            
                                The back corridor of the main hall                            
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