Isuien Gardens

Isuien is a very pretty Japanese garden close to Todaiji Temple.

Isuien means “Garden founded on water”, and its name is came about because its ponds are fed by the Yoshikigawa River, which runs nearby.

The garden is divided into two parts; Front & Rear, with several tea houses found in both parts. The front garden is older and dates back to the mid 17th century. The rear garden, which is larger, is more modern, having been built in 1899 by a wealthy local merchant. Next to the garden there is a museum displaying a collection of pottery, seals, mirrors and other artifacts from ancient China and Korea, which is included with admission.