Kyoto | Mo-an, a Japanese tea house surrounded by maple leaves.
❤ Recommended reasons:
During the Taisho period, gardener Shigejiro Tanikawa bought a piece of forest land in the eastern part of Yoshida-yama, Kyoto. In 1912, he began to build eight tea rooms on the land he bought, and Mo-an was one of them.
These tea rooms, moon viewing platforms, pavilions, etc. together form a large forest tea garden.
Over time, most of these tea rooms have been abandoned, and now only two buildings remain, one of which has been converted into a cafe by Tanikawa's grandchildren and opened to the public.
🌟 Highlights:
How to describe how hard it is to find here? First of all, it is not in the area where the attractions are concentrated, and the nearest one should be Ginkaku-ji Temple. We got off the bus from the Philosopher's Path and walked for 15 minutes to get there. On the way, I bought a cup of coffee and a Japanese confectionery from a famous store. The itinerary was arranged leisurely, and I was not in a hurry.
The entrance is very low-key, and you need to follow the local navigation to find it in the residential area. It was also because we met a pair of Japanese women, chatting and walking up the mountain, judging that they were going to the same place, and following them all the way to avoid detours.
While looking for the way in the residential area, I saw Daimonji-yama up close. The colorful leaves all over the mountain have entered the best viewing period 😁
✅ Must experience:
Entering the area of Mo-an, a small path continues upwards, passing through many abandoned Japanese wooden houses, which used to be tea rooms.
Near the top is a two-story wooden building converted into a cafe.
Indeed, the remote location makes Mo-an a quiet garden away from the hustle and bustle of the city and full of natural atmosphere.
The seats in the tea room all face the windows, and you can have a leisurely afternoon tea, which is a rare relaxation during the trip.