Garyu Sanso Villa — Cliffside Tea House National Treasure

**Tea house architecture:** Furo-an tea house is a masterpiece of minimalist design — 4.5 tatami mats (7.4m²) with a floor-level window providing a dramatic horizontal view of the river 10 meters below. The ceiling uses different woods (cedar, bamboo, cryptomeria) in each section, demonstrating wealth through subtle material variety rather than ornamentation. Photography is prohibited inside the tea house to preserve the atmosphere. **Tea ceremony option:** For ¥500 additional, visitors receive matcha tea and wagashi (Japanese sweet) served in the villa's larger guest room (not the cliffside tea house, which is too small for service). The experience is semi-formal — you're not required to perform tea ceremony protocol, simply enjoy the tea while viewing the garden and river. **Garden design:** The garden incorporates the river, surrounding mountains, and distant Ozu Castle as borrowed scenery (shakkei). Stone lanterns and carefully placed rocks guide the eye toward these natural elements, creating visual layers. Autumn (November) colors the maple trees brilliant red, reflected in the river below. **Ozu Castle combination:** Ozu Castle (大洲城, entry ¥550) is a 10-minute walk from Garyu Sanso. The keep was reconstructed in 2004 using traditional wooden construction methods rather than concrete — the interior uses authentic materials and techniques, making it one of the best modern reconstructions in Japan. A ¥900 combination ticket covers both sites.