Jiko-in, Isuien Garden, and Sainan-in - Enjoy Beautiful Gardens in Nara Prefecture

This video, titled "[4K] Japanese Gardens of NARA BEST 3" ([4K] Japanese Garden of NARA BEST 3　日本庭園・奈良 ベスト３), was uploaded by "Yurara Sarara."
It introduces the three major gardens of Nara Prefecture in beautiful 4K.
Nara, the ancient capital with 1,300 years of history, is dotted with many tourist attractions, including Nara Park where Todaiji Temple is located.
The video focuses on Japanese gardens in Nara.

This article provides tourist information on the highlights for Jiko-in, Isuien Garden, and Sainan-in, which will be introduced in the video, as well as transportation access.
First, please enjoy the beautiful, well-kept Japanese gardens in the video.

Jiko-in, One of the Three Major Gardens of Nara

Photo：The Japanese garden at Jiko-in, Nara Prefecture

Jiko-in, introduced from 0:57 in the video, is a temple of the Daitokuji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.
Jiko-in's Japanese garden is designated as a National Historic Site and a Place of Scenic Beauty.
The Japanese garden at Jiko-in is characterized by the fact that the entire temple grounds are designed as a single tea ceremony hall.
Not only the temple grounds, but also the surrounding scenery is incorporated into the garden as borrowed scenery.

The building you can see from 2:40 in the video is a rustic thatched-roof study, designated as an Important Cultural Property.
The Japanese garden can be enjoyed from the tatami room, allowing visitors to sit quietly on the tatami mats and enjoy the beautiful garden.
Ibarakimon Gate in the precincts of the temple is another highlight of the temple.

Isuien Garden, One of the Three Major Gardens of Nara

Photo：Isuien Garden, Nara Prefecture

Isuien Garden, introduced at 3:27 in the video, is located in the center of Nara City and is a garden with a circular path around a pond that was created to capture the natural landscape of the city.
This Japanese garden, located in a corner of the Nara Park area, consists of the Front Garden created in the early Edo Period (around 1603-1700 AD), and the Back Garden, built in the Meiji Period (1868-1912).

In the Front Garden, there's the Sanshutei Tea House which was relocated by Kiyosumi Dousei, a government purveyor, as a villa for enjoying tea.
The Sanshutei Tea House can be used as a cafe for delicious lunches, or for sampling Japanese sweets and green tea while admiring the Japanese garden.
The Back Garden is a pond garden with a huge artificial mountain created by industrialist Tojiro Seki.
Here, there is a teahouse called "Hyoshintei," a shoin-style teahouse built in the Meiji Period.

At Isuien Garden, visitors can enjoy the vivid colors of the four seasons, with cherry blossoms, azaleas, wisteria, wisteria, Japanese clover, and green maples.
It is also known for its beautiful autumn foliage.
Also located on the grounds of Isuien Garden is the Neiraku Art Museum.
The museum's collection includes a painting by Tanomura Chikuden, which is an Important Cultural Property, and is on special display in the spring.

Access to Isuien Garden is a 15-minute walk or 7-minute bus ride from Kintetsu Nara Station.
An entrance fee, including admission to the Neiraku Art Museum, is also required.
Next to Isuien is Yoshikien Garden, another beautiful Japanese garden.

Sainan-in Temple

Photo：Sainan-in Temple, Nara Prefecture

Sainan-in, introduced at 6:06 in the video, is the Sainan-in Garden of a small Zen temple built to commemorate the death of a high priest of Taima-dera Temple.
The Japanese garden is the 21st sacred site of the Kansai Flower Temples, and is especially famous for its rhododendron and peonies.
In addition, many people visit this temple as the 8th of the eighteen Buddhist monasteries in the Kinki region.

Sainan-in also has a garden featuring a circular path around a pond, and includes the main hall and the horizontally built west wing of the temple.
From the viewing platform, visitors can enjoy a view of the west and east wings of the temple.
There is also a suikinkutsu in the garden, and its crystal-clear sound will calm your mind.

Access to Sainan-in Temple is a 15-minute walk from Tomadera Station on the Kintetsu and Minami-Osaka lines.
Paid parking is also available.
An entrance fee is charged to visit the temple's traditional Japanese garden.
Guests can also enjoy Buddhist vegetarian cuisine or stay overnight in a lodgings. (Reservations only).

Summary of Nara's Three Major Gardens, Jiko-in, Isuien Garden, and Sainan-in

This video, titled "[4K] Japanese Gardens of NARA BEST 3" introduces beautiful Japanese gardens in Nara Prefecture.
Be sure to watch the video to experience the tranquil beauty of the changing of Japan's seasons.

【Official Website】Jiko-in
http://www1.kcn.ne.jp/~jikoin/English-top.html

【Official Website】Isuien
https://isuien.or.jp/en/index.html