Daikaku-ji Temple

■ Scenic Spot Osawa Pond Osawa Pond (Scenic Spot), which extends to the east side of the precincts, is Japan's oldest forest spring-style garden built in the Heian period, imitating Lake Toba in Tang (present-day China). It is also called Niwako because Emperor Saga built the Imperial Palace Saga-in Temple in Tang (China) because it was built by imitating Lake Toba. About 700 cherry blossoms and maple trees are planted on the shores of the pond, and you can enjoy the scenic scenery that has not changed since the Heian period. It is also known as a famous spot for viewing moon because it is one of Japan's three most famous moon viewing spots, and a moon viewing evening is held around mid-autumn. On the north side of Osawa Pond, there is a scenic spot called Nakoso Falls Ruins, which was written by Kinto Fujiwara in Hyakunin Isshu, saying, "The sound of the waterfall is long gone and it is wet, but the name is flowing and you can hear it." The ruins of Nakoso's waterfall were set up in the Takiden Garden of Rikyu Saga-in, and in the "Konjaku Monogatari", it is said that the garden was built by Kawanari Baekje. The water withers early, and there is only a stone structure. Also, at the beginning of the Heian period, Emperor Saga broke the chrysanthemums that bloomed on Kikugashima and put them in a vase. This is the beginning of the ikebana Saga-goryu school, and it is said to be the birthplace of ikebana. Therefore, Daikaku-ji Temple is also known as the Soshisho (Iemoto) of the Ikebana Saga-goryu school. In 1922, it was designated as a nationally designated scenic spot, and excavations from 1994 discovered water from the Middle Ages, and restoration was completed in 1999.