Garden · Kyoto Station north

Shosei-en Garden 渉成園 (枳殻邸)

A peaceful 17th-century stroll garden ten minutes from Kyoto Station, owned by Higashi Hongan-ji, with a pond, a covered bridge, teahouses and a view of Kyoto Tower.

About

Shosei-en, also called Kikoku-tei after the trifoliate orange hedge that once surrounded it, was given to Higashi Hongan-ji by the shogun in 1641 and laid out partly by the poet-landscaper Ishikawa Jozan, creator of Shisen-do. Its large pond, Ingetsu-chi, has islands linked by a wooden covered bridge, the Kaitokukyo, and a bridge with a wisteria trellis; the teahouses and pavilions were rebuilt in the Meiji era. The striking Takasegawa-bashi stone wall at the entrance is made of a patchwork of stones including old millstones and roof tiles. From the far side, Kyoto Tower rises above the trees, an unexpected juxtaposition. It is one of the quietest places in central Kyoto.

Highlights

• Ingetsu-chi pond with islands and a covered bridge
• Patchwork stone wall at the entrance
• Rebuilt Meiji teahouses
• Wisteria bridge in late April
• Kyoto Tower borrowed view

Tips

• A contribution of 500 yen gets you a full-colour guidebook.
• It is a 10-minute walk from Kyoto Station: a great first or last stop.
• Autumn maples and spring cherries are pretty but never crowded.
• Shosei-en closes earlier in winter.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

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