Isuien Garden

Isuien is widely considered one of the finest Japanese gardens in all of Nara, consisting of two distinct sections created in different eras. The front garden dates to the mid-17th century during the Edo period and features an intimate landscape with ponds, tea houses, and carefully placed stepping stones. The rear garden, the larger and more celebrated of the two, was designed in 1899 by a wealthy Nara merchant and is a masterful example of shakkei (borrowed scenery), framing Todai-ji's Great South Gate, the gentle slope of Mount Wakakusa, and the forested hills of Kasuga into its composition. The garden also houses the Neiraku Museum of Art, included with admission, which displays a fine collection of Chinese and Korean ceramics and bronzes. Each season transforms the garden, from fresh spring greenery to autumn maples reflected in the still ponds.