Former Daijoin Temple Garden

The Former Daijoin Temple Garden is a classic Japanese garden featuring a central pond, carefully placed stones, and winding paths that meander through the grounds. The vegetation shifts with the seasons and transforms the feeling of the place throughout the year.

This site belonged to the Daijo-in temple during the Heian and Muromachi periods, where high-ranking priests from the imperial family conducted ceremonies. The garden remained an important location for religious and cultural practices over the centuries.

The garden displays traditional Japanese design principles through its arrangement of water features, stones, and seasonal plants that visitors discover while walking. These elements create small rooms and changing perspectives that shift with each step.

The garden is located near Nara Hotel and is open to visitors daily, with a modest entrance fee for adults. The best times to explore are early mornings or late afternoons, when fewer people are around.

A master gardener named Zenami restored the site in the late 15th century, integrating design features that remain visible in the current structure today. His careful work shaped the layout and sightlines that visitors encounter.