17 Apr 2014

Kyoto Entoku-in Temple

Home of Nene, legal wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Oleh Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

Water basin and petals of cherry blossoms

Couple relaxing at Japanese style loggia

Japanese sandals in front of the teahouse

Giant stones made after the image of a bridge

Looking at something you can’t see! Most parts of the stones are under the ground

Entoku-in Temple is a tranquil place, even if it is located in the most popular and the busiest sightseeing area in Kyoto, Higashiyama. Here was the last home of Nene, legal wife of preeminent samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598). She spent the last 19 years of her life here after Hideyoshi died. She established a good relationship with everyone, even with Jesuit missionaries. Luís Fróis (1532-1597) wrote about her in his work, “History of Japan” that she was an honorable person. The north garden of this temple is composed of lots of giant rocks. Surprisingly, large parts of the rocks are under ground. I think it is interesting that we can enjoy this garden by trying to see what we can't see. By the way, a distinguished Japanese playwright (the Shakespeare of Japan!), Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1725), also lived here for a while.