According to records written in the early modern period, the garden was designed by Soami, who was in the service of the Muromachi Shogunate; however, the designer, the period in which the garden was made, and the intent of the design are unknown as opinion is divided on these matters.
近世の地誌類には、室町幕府に仕えた相阿弥の作庭と伝えるが、作者、作庭年代、表現意図ともに諸説あって定かでない。