聚碧園 — Attraction in Kyoto

"動物のように扱われる – 三千院寺でのショッキングな失望" TREATED LIKE ANIMALS, SHOCKING DISGRACE AT SANZENNIN TEMPLE

We came to Sanzennin Temple, a paid attraction, expecting a peaceful and respectful experience. Instead, we were forced to leave early after being treated like animals by the garden attendant at 聚碧園 (Shuheki-en).

As foreign tourists, we’ve always associated Japan with its renowned hospitality. However, what we encountered here was the complete opposite of omotenashi. It’s disgraceful that, even after paying to enter the grounds, we were treated with such hostility, particularly by the woman serving matcha—a lady with a bob haircut who acted as though we were an inconvenience rather than paying guests.

We wandered slowly and carefully through the temple grounds, eventually finding this serene garden. It wasn’t crowded, and there was a red carpet available, so with limited understanding of the temple’s customs, we naturally assumed we could sit and enjoy the beautiful view. However, moments later, the attendant approached us rudely, using a harsh tone to shoo us away as if we were wild animals. Only after this did we realize the garden had been converted into a tea room. But there was no clear indication of this! The separation between areas was vague, and the signs were small and only in Japanese.

To make matters worse, there were no clear instructions on how to order. We later discovered a hidden QR code explaining the process, but it wasn’t obvious. There was no one attending the entrance, no visible menu—how were we supposed to know the garden was for tea customers only? Instead of kindly informing us, this woman chose to treat us with complete disrespect, as if we were trespassing.

My sister was so appalled by the treatment that she left immediately. Had we known, we would have gladly ordered tea and followed the rules. But to be shooed away like animals after paying to be there is absolutely unacceptable. I doubt this is the level of hospitality the Japanese people pride themselves on.

I sincerely hope the temple addresses this issue, not just for the sake of paying tourists who visit with good intentions, but also because this is sacred ground that deserves respect from both staff and visitors alike. There is no place for such rude,...

三千院の「聚碧園（しゅうへきえん）」は、京都・大原の閑静な山間に佇む三千院の中でも、ひときわ静謐な美しさを湛えた庭園です。限られた空間の中に、遠近感や奥行きを巧みに演出し、静かな自然の中に精神性を投影するのがこの庭の魅力です。石組の力強さと、苔の柔らかな質感、そして背景の樹木の繊細な枝ぶりが織りなす調和は、まるで一幅の絵画を観るかのような感覚をもたらします。 聚碧園の特徴は、その「観賞型庭園」としての完成度の高さにあります。庭の正面に設けられた書院から腰を落ち着けて眺めることが想定されており、動き回って眺める回遊式庭園とは異なり、見る者が一つの視点から時間をかけて庭と向き合う...

室町時代の頓阿上人がこの庭に咲いていた桜の花を詠んだ歌が残っている。

「見るたびに袖こそ濡るれ桜花涙の種を植えや置きけん」（頓阿上人／草庵集）

頓阿上人が友の陵阿上人を訪ねてやってきたときに、陵阿上人の手植えの桜を見て感動の涙を流したもの。この歌に因んで桜は「涙の桜」とい...