After leaving the Hyotei main store and heading towards the station, we found ourselves right next to Murenan, a place I had always wanted to visit. A friend from Nagoya had mentioned that she was planning to stop by, so I offered to join her since I had been wanting to visit as well. In the end, four of us went together. Murenan is a villa once owned by Arata Yamanaka, consisting of a garden, main house, Western-style building, and tea room. The garden, created by Shichidaime Ogawa Jihei, is considered a masterpiece of modern Japanese gardens. We paid the entrance fee of 600 yen per person, as well as 1,200 yen for drinks and food, totaling 1,800 yen per person, before entering. Since we visited in the morning, we were able to enter without a reservation. The lush green garden and the main house were beautiful. While the windows were open, we happened to be seated in front of a large air conditioning unit, which provided a cool breeze, but I imagine it might be a bit uncomfortable in other seats during the summer. For drinks and food, my husband ordered craft beer from Nishijin and pistachios, I had peach juice and matcha ice cream in a wafer shell, our friend from Nagoya had iced coffee and doya-yaki, and our friend from Kobe had champagne and matcha ice cream in a wafer shell. I was surprised to see craft beer from Nishijin and champagne on the drink menu, and the set of food and drink for 1,200 yen (tax included) felt like a good deal depending on what you choose. The craft beer from Nishijin was easy to drink with no strong flavor, and the pistachios were a nice salty snack. The peach juice was rich and delicious, and the matcha ice cream was cool and fragrant. At first, there were plenty of empty seats and we relaxed, but as time passed, more customers arrived, so we decided it was time to leave. When we put on our shoes and stepped outside, we saw a line forming at the ticket counter. We were lucky to have visited at the right time. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

I visited the gardens of Nanzen-ji Temple, the Kyocera Museum, and Murinan Garden, with an entrance fee of 2100 yen including a drink and a snack. Despite the rain, Murinan Garden was beautiful with the sound of rain adding to the atmosphere. It was a luxurious experience to relax and enjoy the garden while listening to the rain. This area is home to many private residences with gardens designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, but Murinan Garden is the only one open to the public. It was a rare opportunity to slow down and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There are other villas owned by wealthy individuals in the area, and I hope they will be open to the public for a short period in the future.

Visited for the garden. Blessed with good weather, it was a wonderful garden with azaleas, irises, and fresh green leaves. The café space faces the garden, with windows open to enjoy the view. You can enjoy matcha tea with dried sweets, matcha ice cream, and more. It was all delicious.

Famous spot. You can enjoy tea while overlooking a modern Japanese garden. You can choose from several sweets for the cafe set, including Murakami Kaishindo's Russian cake and original dorayaki! Although there are many tourists near Kikuzaki, Mureinan requires advance reservations and has a limit on the number of people, creating a different flow of time than outside. When visiting the garden, I recommend also enjoying the cafe. ⭐︎

Tea admission ticket price: 1,600 yen (will change after April 1st) - Fukujuen's matcha - Muren-an original dried sweets x 2 - Muren-an original dorayaki You can choose one drink and one sweet from the Muren-an cafe menu. The matcha from Fukujuen has a refined taste, enjoyed while gazing at beautiful tea utensils, creating an elegant moment. The dorayaki has the Muren-an and river stream motifs imprinted on it, with a fluffy skin and a delicate sweetness in the red bean paste, making it delicious. This place was originally a villa of the politician Aritomo Yamagata, built 120 years ago, featuring a modern Japanese garden with a main house, a western-style building, and a tea room. The panoramic view from the cafe space is stunning, allowing you to forget time and enjoy the sound of the river and the breath of nature.

I visited the villa called Muryoin-an, which was once built as a villa for Aritomo Yamagata. Reservations for tours and meals are required in advance online, and it is charming that you can quietly enjoy the garden. However, it seems that reservations are rarely filled even on weekends, and if there are vacancies, you can enter without a reservation even at the last minute of the day. I had the admission + meal set for ¥1,600, which included matcha and Murakami Kaishindo's Russian cake (yuzu). I enjoyed matcha and Murakami Kaishindo's Russian cake while looking at the lovely garden. I thought the Russian cake from Murakami Kaishindo might be sold out by 3:00, but there were still some left. When you eat here, you feel like you have slipped back in time. I also had a special dorayaki made by Muryoin-an, but it was just a normal dorayaki. The taste of the meal may not feel special, but when you enjoy it in this place and atmosphere, it becomes something special. If you come to Kyoto, start by visiting Muryoin-an to calm your mind, and then explore Kyoto from there. By doing so, you can have a wonderful trip to Kyoto.

I came across this place while checking for information on the best time to see autumn leaves. It is located near Nanzenji Temple, which is usually crowded with school trips and international visitors even on weekday mornings. However, once you enter here, it is surprisingly quiet. You can enjoy café service while gazing at the garden created by the 7th generation Ogawa Jihei through the Taisho glass in the main house. Time seems to flow differently here, allowing you to relax. The landscape from Higashiyama to the premises feels like a countryside. The garden is well-maintained, and no matter where you are or which direction you look, it is beautiful. Mountain Kanesuke is amazing.

In the middle of Muryōan, there is a matcha tea house. It's a sunny day. I admire the beautifully maintained garden. The scent of grass, the smell of tatami mats in the Japanese-style room, and the sounds of animals from the nearby Kyoto Zoo. Sight, hearing, taste. I take off my shoes and take a deep breath. I am served tea and enjoy a dorayaki. It is undeniably delicious. The dorayaki is limited in quantity. However, when I visited on a weekday afternoon, there was still stock, so there was no need to rush. I feel deeply that I am Japanese. I felt very relieved. This villa was completed using the power, status, and wealth of Yamagata Aritomo during the Meiji era. I was able to witness the influence of Yamagata Aritomo.

Is there such a wonderful terrace seat (!?) like this?! Enjoying a drink and sweets while gazing at the breathtaking view, reflecting on history, and clearing your mind! It's much better than just going to a regular cafe! And the drink + sweets + entrance fee for 1,600 yen is an amazing deal!!! It's more relaxing when there are fewer people, but it's such a lovely place that I feel conflicted about wanting to tell my friends about it!

At the villa of the politician Yamagata Aritomo from the Meiji and Taisho eras, it is said that Ito Hirobumi also visited. You can not only see the garden but also enjoy light meals! Alcohol is also available. It seemed empty and hot in the summer! I made a reservation for 1 pm on a weekday. It was recommended to make a reservation in advance up to one hour before the visit, but the person who came before us seemed to be a walk-in. It may be okay when it's empty. [What I ate] Craft beer from Nishijin Beer Pistachio --------------------------- ¥1600 including admission fee The coffee fee is the same whether you prepay with the admission fee or purchase it on the spot (^_^;) The admission fee is the regular price of 600 yen, and the drink + light meal is the regular price of 1000 yen. The pistachios were served in a generous portion, piled high (laughs). I was happy to drink beer related to Kyoto. The beer was refreshing and delicious. If it's 1600 yen including the admission fee, it might be cheap. It's open-air, but there are air conditioning and fans in some places, so I was able to spend time comfortably than I thought. Drinking beer while feeling the wind, it was the best! Thank you for the meal (*´ω`*)

There seems to be a mini lecture on wild birds, so I visited the facility for that purpose. It's better to check the schedule and time of the mini lecture in advance if you are interested. After it ended, I received a postcard featuring wild birds (apparently handmade by the guy who gave the lecture). I missed taking a photo, but they also offer dorayaki and Russian cake at Nonrinan. The dorayaki had the Nonrinan logo stamped on it! It was still a bit hot due to the season, so I could enjoy my snack while watching wild birds flying in to bathe in the river, making it a relaxing tourist spot.

Visited with my parents. It seemed to be by reservation only, with a limited number of people allowed in at once. In a charming Japanese house, we enjoyed matcha tea sets while admiring the beautiful Japanese garden at our leisure. The style was sitting directly on the floor, which I found quite comfortable. Even in the height of summer, we were able to enjoy our matcha tea smoothly, and the relaxed atmosphere was truly blissful.

In early October, I visited the masterpiece of a modern Japanese garden at the Muryoin, a designated national scenic spot near Keage Station on the Kyoto Subway Tozai Line. This garden was created by the seventh-generation Ogawa Jihei under the orders of Arinobu Yamagata, and it has been a national treasure since the Meiji era. Due to the current pandemic, they are limiting the number of visitors by requiring advance reservations on their website. For first-time visitors, I recommend listening to the explanations provided before entering to better understand and enjoy the experience. I made a reservation for the cafe and was asked whether I wanted to visit the garden first or the cafe. Since I was unsure of the timing, I decided to explore the garden first. Despite its relatively small size, the garden's use of elevation changes against the backdrop of the Higashiyama mountains creates a sense of distance and depth. The sound of the water flowing from the Lake Biwa Canal adds to the serene atmosphere, and the garden offers a variety of features, including a waterfall deep within the forest. I returned to the garden cafe in the main house and enjoyed a cup of matcha tea with two types of traditional sweets. It was a truly special experience to savor the rich and fragrant matcha while admiring the garden. The cafe offers a set menu that includes a drink and sweets for 1,600 yen, including tax. The drink options include matcha, coffee, hojicha, and craft beer, while the sweets selection includes a dorayaki, Russian cake from Murakami Kaishindo, and two types of pistachio dried sweets. I hope that one day, when the pandemic is over, we can return to enjoy this tranquil place without time constraints. I look forward to visiting again to refresh my soul. Thank you for the wonderful experience!

I went to this place because it said "cafe" in the name, and I was caught off guard. It's a representative work of a Meiji-era modern Japanese garden designated as a famous spot, located in the former villa of Mr. Yamagata Arimoto. I was able to enter smoothly from 5:00 PM, but reservations are generally required due to limited capacity. "Muri An" is a tea house where you can enjoy Japan's proud modern garden with small tea sweets and carefully selected drinks. Located in the former villa of Mr. Yamagata Arimoto. It was a scorching hot day in Kyoto. Right next to Nanzen-ji Temple. For drinks, you can choose from coffee, black tea, craft beer from Kyoto, and matcha (hot/cold), while for sweets, you can choose from pistachios, dried sweets, and ice cream-filled rice crackers, although this may vary depending on the season. I chose cold matcha and ice cream-filled rice crackers. The two men and women who were sitting in front of me seemed to be landscaping professionals, enjoying craft beer while admiring the garden. I feel like the beer might be the best deal, but I enjoy the slight bitterness of matcha. It's not just fun, it's delightful. This is how you spend your time in Kyoto. Right in the heart of Kyoto, almost completely shut out from the cars running on Nio-mon Street and Okazaki Street. It's a gift of murmuring streams placed throughout the garden as if intentionally integrated with the foothills of Higashiyama, a green garden where cicadas chirp. While leisurely admiring the garden, I enjoyed the refreshing bitterness of cold matcha and the subtly flavored matcha ice cream-filled rice crackers. This is a luxury that can only be experienced in Kyoto. I don't know if the cold matcha or the ice cream is better, but they are delicious. The young guide is also a landscaping professional from a famous construction and garden company. Especially the male guide, he was very gentle and polite. This politeness is perhaps Kyoto's pride. I wrote this for those who want to have every opportunity to admire Kyoto, even if it means writing on websites like Tabelog, Ameba, or Instagram.

In a modern Japanese garden, it's nice to just relax and do nothing once in a while. It's great to sit back and enjoy some hojicha tea and dorayaki in a beautiful corner of the garden where you can't hear any noise from trains, cars, sirens, or music. It made me realize that these moments of doing nothing and thinking nothing are necessary in life. Thank you for the delicious meal.

After having lunch, we went to Nanzen-ji to enjoy the autumn leaves. The colors of the leaves were still halfway there, but there were many tourists bustling around. Afterwards, we walked to this shop. It's actually a villa of Yamagata Aritomo, and there is an entrance fee of 600 yen to visit the garden and the Western-style mansion. It's worth it, but the luxury coffee here costs an additional 800 yen. It's nice to indulge in such luxury while looking at the garden, but it might be hard to come back again. The garden has narrow pathways, and it can be a bit difficult to pass by during this season, but the borrowed scenery reminiscent of the Adachi Museum is beautiful, so I recommend visiting at least once.

To the south of Heian Shrine, across the road from Kyoto City Zoo, lies this garden designated as a national scenic spot. On the day of my visit, coincidentally falling on the autumnal equinox, I had the opportunity to enjoy a seasonal wagashi treat. The wagashi, shaped like flowers, had a light and fluffy red bean paste filling with a hint of green and white color. The carefully prepared matcha tea complemented the delicious sweets perfectly. Despite the slight mist in the air obscuring the distant Higashiyama mountains, the view from the garden was still breathtaking. As a side note, the description of the property mentions a two-story Western-style building made of bricks, which I find hard to believe. The structure appears more like a traditional storehouse. However, no matter how much research I do, it is only referred to as a "Western-style building." It seems odd that such a simple structure would be used to welcome guests. It almost gives the impression of a rushed conversion from a storehouse to a Western-style building. Whether the original building was demolished to partially preserve it inside the storehouse or if it was hastily converted by Yamagata himself for meetings remains unclear. The glass in the main house dates back to the Meiji-Taisho era, suggesting that there may have been extensive renovations during the time when water from Lake Biwa was introduced to the garden.

On a regular Friday at 12:00, I entered the empty "Ikyutei" to have lunch, and then searched on "Tabelog" for dessert and found "Muryan-an" nearby! To access the cafe inside "Muryan-an," you need to pay an entrance fee of ¥410 including tax. The garden is filled with various types of moss, creating a lush green scenery! After spending about 10 minutes admiring the garden, I headed to the cafe. I ordered the Fukujuen matcha and Monaka ice cream set for ¥900 including tax. The matcha and ice cream were not exceptionally delicious, but the view of the entire garden from the cafe made the experience enjoyable. Thank you for the meal.

The Nanzenji Villa Group, also known as the Nanzenji Area Villas, is a vast collection of 15 villas built by Meiji-era statesmen and zaibatsu on land seized from the Rinzai Zen Nanzenji Temple by the Meiji government. Some of the villas include Hekisou, Tairyu Sansou, Yachiyo, and Kikusui, which are now operating as ryokans. I really wanted to see the gardens of the Nanzenji Area Villas. I didn't know they were open to the public, so I was very lucky to be able to see them. You can enjoy a set of sweets and matcha tea while leisurely strolling through the gardens for 1000 yen. On the fourth day of our Kyoto trip, my husband and I visited the Heian Shrine, Murin-an, Nanzenji, and the Philosopher's Path. Today, we walked a lot as we moved around ^_^ Murin-an is one of the Nanzenji Villa Group (or Nanzenji Area Villas) and was built as a villa for Yamagata Aritomo between 1894 and 1896. The property covers approximately 1000 tsubo and was transferred to Kyoto City in 1941.

In November, the autumn leaves in Kyoto began to color, and the special opening of Murinan, which is also the former villa of Yamagata Arimoto, had started. According to my wife's friend, you can enter from 7:30 in the morning and enjoy the autumn leaves in a very refreshing atmosphere. We woke up early on Sunday and went there with my wife and daughter. We entered Murinan a little after 8 o'clock, and as expected, the trees looked radiant in the morning light. The Higashiyama mountain range, which serves as borrowed scenery, was covered with morning mist, creating a fantastical atmosphere. We strolled around the pond garden, taking pictures, and at 9 o'clock, we decided to take a break with matcha for 600 yen and dorayaki for 300 yen. The matcha was from Fukujuen, and the tea ceremony was by Urasenke. It had a light and frothy texture, a smooth mouthfeel, and above all, a wonderful aroma. While receiving a lesson in the tea ceremony from my wife, we enjoyed it deliciously. The matcha came with Masamori beans by Kanaya Masahiro. It is said to be a confection that has been passed down through the generations since it was eaten at the Kitano Daicha-kai associated with Hideyoshi. Kanaya Masahiro is a confectioner who has been inherited through the generations. Inside, there are Azuki beans, and the surface is sprinkled with seaweed. It had a flavor of seaweed as well as kinako, making it an enjoyable confection as a tea snack despite its bite-sized. The dorayaki was from Kyoto Azuki, with Murinan's brand on it, giving it a special feeling. The mildly sweet Hokkaido Azuki beans combined with the sweet castella dough created a very elegant taste. Before the crowds of tourists, being able to stroll through the autumn leaves and garden peacefully, and quietly enjoy matcha and sweets. It is true that early rising has its benefits. Thank you for the meal.