Sidare-zakura (Prunus pendula f. pendula) flowers in the night garden of Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

In the night garden of Kodai-ji, the softly illuminated sprays of pale pink flowers were swinging faintly and endlessly in the spring lazy breeze.

Autumn leaves in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

Just after a sudden passing shower, the colored leaves glistened brightly in the radiant sun bursting through the clouds.

Autumn leaves in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

Fallen leaves in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

Bamboo grove in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

I saw the blazing scarlet of autumn leaves sparkling in the bamboo grove.

Garyo-ike (lying-down dragon pond) in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

The corridor on the pond is called Garyo-ro (lying-down dragon corridor) because this corridor extends like the ridge of a dragon.

This corridor connects the shrine of the founder to the ancestral shrine of this Zen temple.

This beautiful garden was designed by Kobori Enshu, who was a leading expert of the tea ceremony, garden designer and architect of 16-17th century.

The grace and elegance of Kyoto is fundamentally based on the art of tea ceremony, which derives its origin from Japanese Zen Buddhism.

A Chashitsu (tea hut) in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

This tea hut (Chasitsu) is called Ihou-an (lingering-perfume hut). This tea hut was built by Haiya Shoueki (a wealthy merchant and a master of the tea ceremony of 17th century) to cherish the memory of his deceased wife (Yoshino-dayu). The round window is called Yoshino-mado.

A Karesansui garden in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)

This famous beautiful garden (Kita-niwa) is located to the east of the Kita-shoin (north library) of the Entoku-in (perfect mercy house) sub-temple of Kodai-ji.

Though this garden had been originally the Chisen (pond and spring) garden of the Hushimi castle, it was modified into a Karesansui (dry landscape) style when it was moved to this temple. In later ages, Kobori Enshu polished up this garden and added refinements to it.

The rocks rising about the middle symbolically represents the landscape of the Horai-zan (the Isle of Eternal Youth).

Kangetsu-dai (moon-viewing stage) in Kodai-ji (Kyoto)