Yugayama Enchi Garden

Where Sacred History Meets

Scenic Beauty in Nara

Located on the eastern edge of Nara Park, Yugayama Enchi Garden is a tranquil green space that blends natural beauty with deep spiritual and historical significance. The garden sits on the slopes of Mt. Kasuga and has long been associated with the sacred traditions of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, whose deer messengers once roamed freely through these very woods.

While the exact origins of the site date back centuries, the current landscape was developed in the modern era as part of efforts to preserve the harmony between Shinto sacred forest and recreational public space. Today, the garden features wide lawns, shaded groves, and walking paths that invite quiet reflection. It’s a popular place for locals and travelers alike to rest between visits to nearby cultural landmarks such as Kasuga Taisha, Todai-ji, and Nigatsu-do.

Because of its elevated position, Yugayama Enchi also offers breathtaking views of Nara’s temple-dotted cityscape and is a beloved spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring and fiery foliage in autumn. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful break or a deeper connection to Nara’s spiritual roots, this hidden gem offers a moment of serenity just minutes from the crowds.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Yugayama Enchi Garden to life.

A tranquil park scene with a small footbridge over a pond surrounded by lush green trees and plants.
A traditional Japanese garden with a stone pathway, benches, manicured grass, rocks, and trees, enclosed by a yellow wall and greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.
Stone steps leading upward through a dense bamboo forest with tall green stalks and bright sunlight filtering through leaves.
A tranquil Japanese garden with a small wooden bridge over a narrow pond, surrounded by lush green trees and rocks.
A small green plant growing on a mossy rock in front of a wooden fence and dirt path.
Traditional Japanese tea house with a stone lantern and a garden path surrounded by trees and rocks.
Traditional Japanese room with tatami mats and sliding shoji doors opening to a peaceful garden with trees and rocks.
A traditional Japanese room with shoji sliding doors opening to a garden with trees and rocks, sunlight illuminating the wooden floor.
A small traditional Japanese-style building with sliding paper doors is nestled among lush green trees and plants. A stone pathway with steps leads up the grassy hill, bordered by black posts and ropes. The scene is tranquil and surrounded by dense f
Traditional stone water basin with bamboo spout, used for purification at a Japanese shrine or temple, surrounded by rocks and wooden fence.
Moss-covered stone well filled with green ferns, situated on a mossy ground with scattered rocks and lush greenery in the background.
Stone steps leading uphill through a lush green forested area with trees, bushes, and moss-covered ground.