Ichijo Ekan Sanso is a historic Japanese site featuring a beautiful garden where guests can partake in tea ceremonies, savor treats at the café, and immerse themselves in nature.
Ichijo Ekan was a noble at the court during the early Edo Period and the ninth son of Emperor Go-Yozei. He was particularly skilled in composing Waka, the traditional Japanese poetry, and in the art of the tea ceremony. Ichijo Ekan Sanso, originally constructed as a summer residence in Nishigamo, Kyoto, later transformed into a tea room and played a significant role in the cultural movement of 1946. This site is a treasured artifact, being the last remaining example of Imperial court culture aside from Katsurarikyu in Kyoto. After its dismantling and reconstruction in Kamakura in 1959, the building was recognized as a nationally important intangible cultural property. The essence of Japanese culture is deeply connected to a reverence for nature, which is beautifully embodied in the serene garden that surrounds it.