Shosei-en is a truly delightful stroll garden just 10 minutes’ walk from JR Kyoto Station. Hidden behind large walls, and with an entrance tucked away on a side street, this beautiful garden is very easy to miss. However, beyond those walls are spacious park-like grounds, which include traditional villas, teahouses, and a large pond dotted with islands and bridges.
The tranquil garden is so cleverly designed and arranged that once inside its tranquil grounds you could easily forget that you are in the midst of one of Kyoto’s more built up urban areas. If you are in the area, then this charming haven of traditional beauty is definitely worth a visit. Another advantage of this location is that Shosei-en is not as well-known as some of Kyoto’s more famous gardens, so it doesn’t get as crowded with tourists.
A brook leading to the Bokakaku ornamental gate at the Shosei-en Garden
History
Shosei-en is the detached garden of Higashi Honganji Temple. Its history dates to 1641, when the ruling Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, granted the temple land, and in 1653 Sennyo, the 13th head priest of Higashi Honganji, began developing the site as a retirement residence. The estate is also sometimes called “Kikokutei” because karatachi, a hardy citrus shrub, was once planted as a hedge around the garden.
A famous Confucian scholar, Ishikawa Jozan (1583-1672), is traditionally credited with laying out the grounds as a stroll garden for the temple abbot’s private study. Ishikawa Jozan is perhaps best known as a poet and calligrapher, but he also designed the famous garden at Kyoto’s Shisendo Temple. For a long time it was believed that the garden’s history went back even further than that however. A famous Heian era aristocrat named Minamoto no Toru, had a mansion and garden in this area, and people believed that Shosei-en was created on the same site. The likelihood of this story being true has been disputed by historians, but there are many aspects of the garden today that have been influenced by this association.
Ishikawa Jozan who first designed the Shosei-en garden – Public Domain
Tragically civil disturbances in 1858, and 1864 resulted in two fires that destroyed all of the original buildings and left the garden a smoldering ruin. The garden and buildings we see today are reconstructions, lovingly recreated in the late 19th century. Below are just a few of the features that you can see in this wonderful garden.
Takaishigaki – The High Stone Wall
Resembling a gigantic stone jigsaw puzzle, this wall is recycling as high art
After entering through the West Gate and making the garden-maintenance donation at reception, the first thing you will see ahead of you is this wall. It is beautifully constructed out of borrowed stones from a variety of sources which range from long quarry stones, foundation stones, rocks, tiles and even a round mill stone.
Bokakaku – The Ceremonial Gate
The Bokakaku is a free standing gate built according to teahouse aesthetics
This unusual two story structure is a reconstruction dating from 1892. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed inside, but apparently the ceiling of the 2nd floor is decorated with the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. This is based on an original design by Ishikawa Jozan, who among his other hobbies was a keen astronomer. The name of the gate could be translated as “pavilion beside flowers”, which is appropriate as many cherry trees are planted nearby. There are many different varieties of cherry here which bloom one after the other, from early-flowering cherries in late February through the main late March to early April bloom, so that the Bokakaku is bathed in pink and white blooms.
Ingetsu-Chi – The Garden Pond
Ingetsu-chi pond
This pond is the main feature of the garden, and in fact covers one sixth of the grounds. When the moon rises above the Higashiyama mountains, it is beautifully reflected in the water. From this comes the name ingetsu-chi which means “Moon Image Pond”.
Visitors admiring the pond’s koi carp
Kaitoro – The Covered Bridge
The bridge is built in a distinctive style with a high center and low flanks
This covered bridge with its cypress bark roof dates from 1884. Before the fire of 1858, the bridge here was quite different, having a bright vermilion balustrade and arched design. In the past the bridge was hung with golden lanterns to light the way for evening visitors. Presumably this practice was too much of a fire risk to be continued, but though the lanterns have gone, the hooks remain visible inside the bridge.
Minamoto no Toru Memorial Tower
A tribute to a legendary historical figure
This nine level stone tower is a memorial stone to Minamoto no Toru and is said to have been constructed in the Kamakura era, before the Shosei-en garden was created. A lotus design is carved on the very bottom of the tower, and the stone above that has a carved image of the Buddha on each of its four sides. Minamoto no Toru (822 – 895), was the son of Emperor Saga, a prominent statesman and a poet. He is also said to be a model of Hikaru Genji, the main character in the Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel.
Toru was a flamboyant figure who famously designed his own garden to resemble the north-eastern sea coast. The sight of fires used by salt makers on the sea shore were said to be a source of poetic inspiration, so for his own amusement Toru had sea water brought to his garden. He would then have it boiled down for salt. Because of the Shosei-en’s association with Toru, there are some features around the garden that reflect this story, including the “shiogama no chozu-bachi,” a water basin for salt water, and the “shiogama” a stone covered pit, that was meant to look like a salt oven.
Roan Teahouse Garden Gate & Lantern
Simple is best – the teahouse aesthetic
This gate and stepping stone pathway leads to the Roan teahouse. The bamboo fencing with its cedar bark roof, is a perfect example of the teahouse aesthetic of simple beauty. Beside it is the Kasuga Lantern, which dates from the early Edo era, and is notable for the design of its hexagonal roof, which is actually shaped to resemble piled up fallen snow.
Sobai-en – The Plum Orchard
Unlike cherry blossom which has no scent, plum blossom has a sweet aroma reminiscent of wine
Planted with a rich array of trees and flowers the Shosei-en is a colorful garden in all seasons. Particularly notable are the spring cherry blossoms, purple wisteria in May, and maple leaves in the autumn. From January into March, visitors are delighted by the flowering plum orchard and its red and white flowers.
The Shosei-en Garden Location Map
The West Gate is the only entrance and exit for Shosei-en, and visitors should go to the reception desk inside the gate before entering the garden. The entrance to Shosei-en is about 10 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station on Ainomachi Street. To find it go north on Karasuma Street passing Kyoto Tower and the Yodobashi department store on your left. When you get to the intersection with Shichijo Street turn right. Ainomachi Street is the third street on your left running north from Shichijo.
Garden Maintenance Donation:
Adults: 700 yen or more
Middle and high school students: 300 yen or more
Elementary school students and younger: free
The entrance to Shosei-en
Opening Hours:
March – October: 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
November – February: 9:00 – 16:00 (last entry at 15:30)
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 30-Jun-2026.
