Overview:
The Former Chikurin-in, also known as Kyuchikurin-in, is located in the Sakamoto area of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. It is a former satobo, or a monk retirement residence. This particular one was home to many monks after they finished their tenure on Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei, at the foot of which sits Sakamoto.
滋賀県大津市坂本地域にある旧竹林院。元々は里坊と呼ばれる比叡山延暦寺で修行を終えた僧侶の隠居所でした。
In the front of the main window of the residence stretches a 3,300 square meter Japanese garden, as well as two tea houses and summer gazebos that were built in the Taisho Period. This garden can be enjoyed from the tatami mats inside or outside on one of the many garden paths. With many different kinds of trees, plants, and flowers, this garden is beautiful year-round.
敷地内には約3,300㎡の日本庭園が広がり、大正時代に建てられた2棟の茶室と四阿があります。主屋の畳の上からも外の小道からも庭園の景色を楽しむことができます。様々な木、植物、そして花があるので、四季折々きれいです。
Hiyoshi Chaen Tea:
The Sakamoto area is also known for being the origin place of Japanese tea, originally brought to Japan from China by the monk Saicho, around the year A.D. 805. Japan’s first tea plantation, Hiyoshi Chaen, is indicated to this day by vermillion fencing next to Kiehan Sakamoto Hieizan-guchi Station. Kyuchikurin-in is unique in that is still serves this tea, continuing on this important heritage of Sakamoto.
日吉茶園:
坂本地区は、最澄（伝教大師）が805年に中国から持ち帰ったお茶の種により始まった、日本茶の起源の場所としても知られています。京阪坂本比叡山口駅の隣に位置する朱色の柵が特徴的な「日吉茶園」は日本最初の茶園です。旧竹林院では、坂本地区の重要な文化遺産であるこのお茶を提供しており、訪れる際は、ぜひ飲んでみてはいかがでしょう。
Instagram:
The beautiful garden reflected in the table has become a popular picture on Instagram, and can be viewed under the Japanese hashtags #旧竹リフレand #旧竹林院.
Since we are quite the international lot, with this blog and video we are also starting hashtags for English, French, and Portuguese! When you visit Kyuchikurin-in, be sure to get this iconic reflection picture and post it to Instagram with the hashtags #kyuchikureflection, #refletskyuchikurin, #reflexosdokyuchiku, as well as #hellootsu and #gobiwako. Add in a #yobiwako if you somehow happened to hear about it from this blog!
美しい庭園がテーブルに映っているイメージは最近インスタグラムで人気になり、ハッシュタグ＃旧竹リフレと＃旧竹林院を検索すると見ることができます。私たち国際交流員はけっこう国際的なので、この記事と動画で英語、フランス語、ポルトガル語のハッシュタグもスタートします！旧竹林院を訪問する際に、この人気であるリフレ写真を撮り、インスタグラムで#kyuchikureflection, #refletskyuchikurin,そして #reflexosdokyuchikuのハッシュタグをぜひ付けておいてください。もしよろしければ、さらに#hellootsuと #gobiwakoもつけてください！この記事で知ったら、ぜひ#yobiwakoもお願いします！
Access:
The closest station to the Former Chikurin-in is Sakamoto Hieizan-guchi Station on the Keihan Sakamoto-Ishiyamadera Line in Otsu, from which it is roughly a 10 minute walk. It is also accessible via JR, located about a 20 minute walk from JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station. Alternatively, if you happen to be coming down Mt. Hiei via the Sakamoto Cable, it is less than a 5 minute walk from the bottom of the mountain.
アクセス：
旧竹林院から最寄りの駅は京阪坂本石山寺線の坂本比叡山口駅で、徒歩約10分かかります。JRでお越しの方は比叡山坂本駅で降り、旧竹林院まで徒歩20分程度かかります。さらに比叡山から坂本ケーブルで降りる際には、麓から徒歩約5分なので、ぜひついでに寄ってください！
We hope to see you there!
ぜひお越しください！
Yo! Biwako 