The Poet and the Ox

“An old pond
A frog jumps in
Water sound!”

-Basho, 17 c. haiku master

A temple of refined elegance, the garden of the Dragon and Ox, and the Hermitage of an ex-Samurai. All within walking distance of one another.

We travel to an old, quiet and surprisingly ordinary neighborhood in the northeastern part of Kyoto, tucked into the Higashiyama mountain range. This is not like the busy tourist areas that are scattered around town.

The road we follow winds its way through this residential neighborhood and we soon encounter traces of the farm life that existed in this area for hundreds of years. As we approach the cedar forest we can feel that this is like nowhere we have seen in Kyoto up until this point. It is in these surroundings you will have one of your most memorable experiences in Japan.

Sites visited

MANSHU-IN Begin your journey at this secluded temple, renowned for its elegant landscape garden and architectural beauty. Learn about the temple’s profound connection to Japanese spirituality and its meticulous design that encourages quiet contemplation.

ENKO-JI This temple has two fascinating gardens. Very interestingly, as they are both of a very different nature- they both represent the same deep underlying concept- "enlightenment".

SHISEN-DO The hermitage of an ex-samurai, this site is an excellent example of Japanese architecture blurring the line between the "outside" and "inside". You will spend time in the tranquil garden, as well as touring the home which features features a collection of 36 portraits of ancient Chinese poets.

RAKUHOKU NEIGHBORHOOD The entire time will be spent in this former and present farming and artisan enclave. As we travel from site to site we will be able to have a peek into the lives of families who have been living this simple way of life for generations.

LENGTH: 3.5 hours
MEETING POINT: Manshu-in