The garden complex containing the two tea houses; Ko-un-tei (Fragrant-Clouds House) and Waraku-an (Harmony-Comfort Hut) are mainly used for tea ceremonies held by the city and reception events for government guests.
800 out of the 1,100 stones decorating the area have been moved from the nearby residence of Ryoi Suminokura, a rich merchant in the beginning of the Edo Period (1603 - 1867). The remaining 300 stones were collected from throughout Japan. Also, one of the tea houses was originally a part of the above merchant's residence.
The entire garden complex, designed to represent "maginificence, brightness and elegance" completed in 1965. Within its 16,500 square-meter area, there are a traditional Around-the-Pond garden and a western lawn field.