"The first ume branch in bloom reveals the spring and my smile." (an old Chinese poem)

[Shoiken] Shoiken is at the southern end of the premises and, therefore, where the first sign of the spring appears. Its name was taken from one verse of an old Chinese poem depicting the ume blossom. The prince must have enjoyed the view of the farms and fields, farmers working in the neighbourhood, and the gentle slope of Nishiyama (the western hills), from this tearoom which was covered on the inside with velvet when it was built.