Kyūseki Teien

Kyūseki Teien is a Japanese garden in Nara that spans multiple landscape sections connected by winding stone paths. The space features a carefully composed arrangement of plants, rocks, and water elements that work together as a unified whole.

The garden was part of the administrative complex of Heijō Palace during the Nara period from 710 to 794, when Nara served as Japan's capital. This era saw significant developments in Japanese architecture and garden design that shaped the place as it exists today.

The garden embodies traditional Japanese design principles through the careful placement of plants, stones, and water that work together to create a balanced environment. Visitors can observe how each element was intentionally positioned to produce a sense of harmony and order.

The site is open throughout the year during regular hours and offers guided tours that explain its historical significance. It helps to wear comfortable shoes since exploring the different landscape sections involves considerable walking.

Excavations in the 1970s revealed original garden features from the 8th century, including water channels and foundation stones of ancient structures. These archaeological discoveries made it possible to partially restore the site to its original state and demonstrate how garden design persisted over more than a thousand years.