Recorded Joy·Rakuchū / Shimabara

The garden of Sumiya

Sumiya is the only surviving ageya, an Edo-period banquet house, and such houses set a wide garden with tea seats before their great rooms. From the innermost 43-mat "Pine Room" one looks out onto the main garden, named for the Garyū-no-matsu, a pine whose branches were trained to trail like a reclining dragon. The original pine has since died, and the one growing there now is said to be its second generation. It's said that Serizawa Kamo of the Shinsengumi held his banquets in these rooms, and sword cuts from his rampage are still shown.

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These notes come from desk research. Local traditions vary.