Joeiji Temple Sesshu-tei Garden
Sesshu was one of ink-wash painters and a zen monk in the Muromachi Period. Sponsored by the Ouchi Family, he moved to Suwa, then Ming (China) and learned how to paint with ink. He became a renowned master, and six of his paintings are designated as national treasures, such as Amano-hashidate and Shiki Sansui. He is a giant in the history of Japanese painting.
The garden looks simple and modest, but you can sense the deeper meaning the designer wanted to express.
Dōgo Onsen Honkan
Boasting a history of roughly 3,000 years, Dōgo Onsen is considered by many to be Japan’s oldest hot spring. Its iconic symbol, the Dōgo Onsen Honkan, was rebuilt in 1894 as a public bathhouse and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. After six years of extensive preservation and restoration work, the wooden three-story bathhouse fully reopened in 2024, offering a renewed experience designed to soak in the historical beauty up close.
This is a famous hot spring destination in Japan. Each bathhouse has its own unique charm. Definitely worth visiting to experience the local hot spring culture.
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en was founded and developed for about 180 years by the Maeda clan lord in Kaga, which is a strolling-style landscape garden and one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan.
This is a beautiful garden. The oldest natural fountain here was designed using the difference in height between the ponds. Really impressive!
Rinnoji Temple (Miyagi Prefecture)
Rinnoji Temple, also known as Kongo Hozan, is a Soto Zen temple founded in 1441 by Date Mochimune. It has one of Tohoku's most beautiful Japanese gardens, with a pond in the center and a three-story pagoda rising in he northwest.
You can enter the garden from the entrance next to the main hall. The well-kept garden and the three-story pagoda are truly spectacular.