Okochi Saso Villa

With no mind, flowers lure the butterfly;
With no mind, the butterfly visits the blossoms.
Yet when flowers bloom, the butterfly comes;
When the butterfly comes, the flowers bloom.
–Ryokan

This not to be missed architecturally traditional home and gardens belonged to Danjiro Okochi, a famous silent screen star of samurai movies.

This five acre estate lies beside a bamboo forest on the side of Mt. Ogura-yama, and from the upper gardens its is possible to experience “borrowed scenery” where the view of northern Kyoto to Mount Hiei and the Higashiyama range of hills is incorporated into the garden scene.

Before wandering from one garden to another, sit and have tea and a sweet while enjoying the views of the villa and mountain. It is recommended that one eat the sweet first before taking the bowl in both hands to sip the green tea.

A path then leads to traditional tea houses and a view of the narrow gorge of the Hozu River.