Shinsen-en Garden

Shinsen-en Garden is defined by a large, central pond known as Hojoju-ike, which remains the oldest surviving garden in Kyoto. Established in seven hundred ninety-four as a private, imperial garden for the Heian Palace, it originally covered a vast area that has since been reduced by the construction of the nearby Nijo Castle. The garden is widely recognized as the site of the first recorded cherry blossom viewing in Japan, hosted by Emperor Saga in eight hundred twelve.