Rakushisha, Traditional tea house in Sagano, Japan.
Rakushisha is a traditional tea house in the Sagano area built with clay walls and a thatched roof set among persimmon trees. The structure uses no metal nails and demonstrates the Japanese carpentry techniques characteristic of its period.
In the 17th century, Mukai Kyorai, a student of poet Matsuo Basho, lived here and wrote many haiku poems within its walls. The house connects to a significant literary lineage that shaped Japanese poetry during this era.
Stone tablets with engraved haiku poems are placed throughout the garden, linking poetry to the natural elements visible in each season. These verses show how literature and nature were seen as deeply connected.
The site is located in a quiet woodland area and is reachable on foot from other temples and gardens nearby. Wearing comfortable shoes is recommended, and allowing time to walk through the garden surrounding the house is worthwhile.
The name refers to an unusual incident when all the fruits from the surrounding persimmon trees dropped to the ground before harvest. This story is preserved in local memory and explains why the place carries this distinctive name to this day.
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