Born in Ōmi (Shiga), son of Kobori Masatsugu; his given name was Masakazu.
Around this time he studied the tea ceremony under Furuta Oribe.
His father died, and he inherited the family lands in Bitchū (Okayama).
He was put in charge of building work at Sunpu Castle, and later showed his skill in castles, palaces and gardens.
He became daimyo of Komuro in Ōmi; from his title Tōtōmi no kami he was called Enshū.
Around this time he became magistrate of Fushimi, long serving in the Kyoto–Osaka region.
Around this time he designed gardens such as those of the Sentō Palace, Nijō Castle and Konchi-in of Nanzen-ji, and spread a bright, refined style of tea called kirei-sabi.
Around this time he served as tea master to the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.
He died at Fushimi. His school of tea survives today as Enshū-ryū.
Hon'ami KōetsuYagyū MunenoriTokugawa HidetadaKasuga no TsuboneHayashi RazanMiyamoto MusashiIngenMatsudaira Nobutsuna
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.