The temple borders a 1,200-year-old artificial lake, Osawa Pond, once used for moon-viewing parties and other entertainments.

A prime reason for our visiting Daikaku-ji was, of course, to view its splendid gardens and countless cherry trees in full flower.

A stout survivor

Shingyohoto Pagoda was erected in commemoration of the 1,150th anniversary of Emperor Saga's writing out of the Heart Sutra. (More details on that in the following gallery.)

Cheerful paintings of flowers to be seen in the temple's gardens adorn the ceiling of a small coffee house/restaurant within the temple grounds.

A golden cicada graces a latch used to hold a window-covering panel open.

Painting on sliding doors in one of the temple buildings

Paintings of the four seasons decorate the sliding doors within one of the temple buildings.