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Isuien Garden

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Isuien Garden

A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty where visitors can experience the aesthetics of two different eras.

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Supervised by :  Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum of Art Foundation

A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty featuring a strolling pond garden. Despite its location on the north side of Nara Park, between Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple, Isuien Garden is a tranquil Japanese garden secluded from its surroundings. It consists of two sections: the Front Garden, created in the early Edo period, and the Back Garden, developed during the Meiji period. Together, they offer a glimpse into the aesthetics of two different eras.

The Front Garden is a serene space featuring a teahouse and stone lanterns, preserving the character of Edo-period garden culture. The Back Garden, meanwhile, incorporates Mount Wakakusa and Todai-ji Temple's Nandaimon Gate as borrowed scenery, creating an expansive landscape. Seasonal flowers and trees are beautifully reflected in the pond, drawing especially large crowds during the spring cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons.

The garden grounds also house the Neiraku Museum of Art, which exhibits antique East Asian artworks, allowing visitors to explore history and culture alongside the garden. This tranquil, celebrated garden brings together Nara's natural beauty, architecture, and traditional aesthetics.

Highlights

  • A strolling pond garden designated as a national Place of Scenic Beauty.
  • A tranquil Japanese garden secluded from its surroundings despite being close to Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji temples.
  • Comprises two sections: the Front Garden and the Back Garden.
  • Also home to the Neiraku Museum of Art, which exhibits antique East Asian artworks.
  • Especially popular during the spring cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons.

Photos

  • The Front Garden, created in the early Edo period

    The Front Garden, created in the early Edo period

  • The Back Garden, developed during the Meiji period

    The Back Garden, developed during the Meiji period

  • Teishuken, a teahouse distinguished by its circular window

    Teishuken, a teahouse distinguished by its circular window

  • The Neiraku Museum of Art on the garden grounds

    The Neiraku Museum of Art on the garden grounds

  • Meals are available at Sanshutei in the Front Garden

    Meals are available at Sanshutei in the Front Garden

  • Matcha and other refreshments are available at Hyoshintei

    Matcha and other refreshments are available at Hyoshintei

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Is free Wi-Fi available on the grounds?
A

No.

Q

Are coin-operated lockers available?
A

Yes.

Q

Is reentry permitted?
A

Yes.

Q

Is there a designated smoking area?
A

No. Smoking is prohibited throughout the grounds.

Q

Are there any sightseeing attractions nearby?
A

Nearby attractions include Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Kofuku-ji Temple.

Reviews

1

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 柯銘傑
    See More

    I really liked the design of Isuien Garden. Each section of the path offers a different perspective, and as you walk, you see the pond, waterfall, tea house, and distant mountain scenery all connected together. It didn't feel crowded at all, so I could quietly enjoy how nature and the garden blend together.

Details

Name in Japanese
依水園
Postal Code
630-8208
Address
74 Suimon-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Phone
0742-25-0781
Closed on
Tuesdays (or the following weekday if Tuesday is a national holiday), the New Year holidays, and during garden maintenance periods (late December to mid-January and late September)
Hours
9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (admission until 4:00 p.m.)
Admission
1,200 yen; high school and university students: 500 yen; elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen
Access
About a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
Credit Cards
Accepted
Official website
Official website (Japanese)
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