Manshu-in Temple, located on a hillside in the north suburbs of Kyoto, was established by Priest Saicho (the founder of the Japanese Tendai Sect who also established the famous Enryaku-ji Temple) around 782-806. The temple buildings and the gardens are quite similar to the Katsura detached palace, and Manshu-in is sometimes called a small Katsura. The reason is that a father and son of the Imperial Family designed both of them in the 17th Century. The gardens were carefully planned to be seen from outside corridors, and also from a sitting position on tatami mats.
Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima
Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...