流響院は数寄屋造りの建物と近代日本庭園の基礎を築いた「植治」７代目小川治兵衛、保太郎親子が手がけた庭園からなります。
戦後、米軍に接収されその姿を変えていた建物は約1年余りの解体調査期間を経て、２００７年４月より数寄屋造りの職人たちが、大正時代の巨陶庵（ことうあん）の図面や写真を参考に元の意匠を再現。

残せるものはそのまま残し、傷んだ部分は補修しながら、復元。加えて襖絵は現代作家を起用し、伝統と現代芸術の融合を図りました。庭園は東山連峰を望み、茶室・凉流亭、巧みに配置された鞍馬石や守山石といった名石、灯籠などと、約７０種１０００本以上の樹木が奥深い景観を織りなします。
春には桜やツツジが咲き誇り、初夏の青葉や秋の紅葉が四季折々に庭園を染め上げ、東山の緑とともに美しい光景を描きます。

Ryukyo-in comprises a sukiya style villa and a ‘strolling’ garden (Jpn. chisen-kaiyushiki). The sukiya style, which dates from the 17th century, is generally regarded as the pinnalce of Japanese architecture. Strolling gardens are designed for viewing a sequence of natural effects from a path that circumnavigates a pond. The 7th generation master gardener Ueji (Ogawa Jihe), creator of the modern Japanese gardening style, crafted Ryokyo-in’s garden together with his son Yasutaro.

After World War II, the buildings at Ryukyo-in were altered during a period when the property was occupied by the US military. Beginning in April 2007, specialized artisans labored for more than a year in order to restore the grounds to their original beauty. They first disassembled the villa piece by piece and then reassembled it according to blueprints and pictures from the early 20th century when the grounds were known as “Koto-an.” The fusuma (sliding partition) paintings were done by a modern artist who fused traditional and modern artistic styles. In the garden—to the greatest extent possible—all original Ueji works were left intact, with the restoration efforts focused on returning the garden to its former splendor.

The natural beauty of the surrounding Higashiyama mountains, a superb tearoom, rocks quarried from the famous regions of Moriyama and Kurama, stone lanterns, and more than a thousand trees representing approximately 70 species are woven together to create the exquisite tapestry that is Ryukyo-in.

Spring brings cherry blossoms and azaleas to the garden and the lush greenery of summer gives way to the blazing foliage of autumn. The garden is awash with the colors of the four seasons, displaying a beautiful spectacle in step with the verdure of Higashiyama.