Built in 1641, the same year as the Ōhōjō (Large Guest House), this building is also known throughout Kyoto as one of the most famous examples of shoin-zukuri architecture. The Kohōjō consists of six rooms and are all decorated with fusuma-e (sliding door paintings) done by the Kano School. Compared to the Ōhōjō, the Kohōjō is immersed in a light, tranquil air, and the contrast to the Ōhōjō is quite striking. The Kohōjō is surrounded by the Hōjō Garden, which exudes the moods of the four seasons.