On 22nd November 2014, I visited Shisendo Villa at Ichijo-ji Temple, in Rakuhoku Area of Kyoto. Commonly known as Shisendo, the villa's official name is Ooto-Tsuka. Shisendo is just one of the rooms of villa. 'Ooto-Tsuka' means a house built on uneven ground.
Shisendo was built by Ishikawa Jozan. The Ishikawa family were loyal subjects of theTokugawa family, and Jozan himself served in a position close to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Ishikawa Jozan was also a talented garden designer, who contributed to repair works of Katsura Imperial Villa and Kikoku-Tei (Shosei-En).
When I looked at the garden, I could sense his meticulous attention to detail, as well as his strong passion for this place, and I was mesmerized by the beauty of autumn leaves at Shisendo Villa.
