Basic Information
Description
This site was once home to Shugaku-in, a temple that eventually fell into ruin and became part of Enryaku-ji's estates. In 1651, Retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo took a liking to the scenery and began planning a villa here. After the Retired Emperor passed away in 1680, his daughter Princess Akenomiya Teruko built Rinkyu-ji temple between the upper and lower tea houses to pray for his soul. In 1885, Rinkyu-ji returned part of its land to the Imperial Household, and this area came to be known as the Middle Tea House.
The grounds cover an astonishing 545,000 square meters, encompassing rice paddies, fields, and forested hills. There are three main gardens, of which the Upper Tea House garden is the largest — it features a vast pond called Yokuryu-chi, created by damming a stream from Mount Hiei, with three islands in the water. The tour takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Admission is free, but advance reservation is required.