​ Former Daijo-in Temple Garden
​

The "Former Daijo-in Temple Garden" a designated scenic spot adjacent to the south side of Nara Hotel, opened its garden paths to the public on July 1, 2017.
Daijoin was one of the monzeki temples (temples headed by a member of the imperial family) that was founded in 1087 (Kanji 1) and flourished from the Heian period to the Edo period. (Young members of the Fujiwara clan entered the priesthood there, and the temple produced many abbots who served as head administrators of Kofuku-ji Temple.) After being destroyed in the burning of the temples of Nanto in 1180 (Jisho 4), it moved to its current location and continued to exist until it was abolished in the early Meiji period due to the anti-Buddhist movement. Currently, part of its grounds is occupied by Nara Hotel.
The garden fell into disrepair during the Muromachi period's debt relief uprising, but was later remodeled at the request of the head priest, Jinson, by Zen'ami, a renowned garden designer active during the Muromachi period. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa and other court nobles frequently visited the garden, and it was praised as the finest garden in Nara until the early Meiji period.

At one point, the area was home to tennis courts and a putting green belonging to Nara Hotel, but after the war, parts of it were renovated, and in 1958 (Showa 33), it was designated a national scenic spot.

Since 1995, restoration work has been carried out in parallel with archaeological excavations conducted by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, based on the "Panoramic Views of Daijo-in Through the Four Seasons" drawn by the late Edo period abbot, Ryuon. Now, in conjunction with the 1300th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo, it has been opened to the public.