Rurikoin | The Window That Made Me Dream of My Future Garden

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated June 9, 2026

Sitting before the black lacquered desk in the shoin, you see the green maples and garden reflected below — two worlds layered into one. Rurikoin is the kind of place you don't want to leave, and somehow it made me seriously imagine my future home.

Have you ever sat somewhere and suddenly started imagining what your future home should look like?

At Rurikoin, I sat in front of the shoin window for a long time, staring at the reflection below — and thought seriously: I want a garden exactly like this someday.

I know it's nearly impossible. But the thought just came, strangely real.

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【Getting There from Kyoto】

Rurikoin is located in Yase, in the northeastern outskirts of Kyoto. From Demachiyanagi Station, take the Eizan Densha railway — about 20 minutes to Yase-Hieizan-guchi Station. Cross a small bridge and walk about 5 minutes.

The ride itself is calming. The city gradually falls away, station names get less familiar, and by the time you arrive, you've already started to slow down.

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【Small, but Thoughtfully Designed at Every Turn】

The grounds aren't large — you can see everything in about an hour. But that's not a problem here. The care shows in every detail: the moss-covered pathways, the placement of stone lanterns, the proportions of the corridors.

This isn't a place you rush through. For anyone who loves Japanese gardens, it's the kind of space where you naturally slow down and take everything in.

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【That Window View】

When you step into the shoin study room and see the window, you'll understand why this place is famous.

In front of the window sits a large black lacquered desk. The green maples of the garden reflect on its surface — the window frame, the lattice, the mountains, the trees — two images layered into one, inseparable. Many visitors go quiet here. No one seems in a hurry to leave.

I took a lot of photos. But honestly, what the camera captures isn't quite the same. The stillness of the room, the proportions of the space, the awareness of sitting inside a building with centuries of history — none of that fits in a frame.

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【Before You Go】

・Rurikoin opens only twice a year: spring (early May to mid-June) and autumn (November). Check the official website for exact dates.

・Entry is limited — popular dates may require advance tickets purchased online

・Admission: approximately ¥2,000

・Access: 5-minute walk from Yase-Hieizan-guchi Station on the Eizan Densha

・The riverside path along Takano River nearby is worth a walk if you have extra time

If you're the kind of person who would plan a whole day around one perfect window view, Rurikoin is worth the trip.

Just give yourself more time than you think you need — once you're inside, you won't want to leave so quickly.