I heard from a Kyoto Barkeeper that Katsura Imperial Villa is the No.1 spot in Kyoto that doesn’t disappoint tourists, so I went there! ! ! Definitely I won’t disappoint you, it was amazing.
You will be overwhelmed by the size of the garden. It is an extremely luxurious garden with seasonal tea rooms and elaborate designs everywhere! ! !
- Reservations are recommended!
- Katsura Imperial Villa always has a tour guide
- Who built Katsura Imperial Villa?
- From Miyukimichi to Miyukimon!
- The garden was deliberately hidden from view for later enjoyment.
- Let’s finally go to the center of the garden!
- This is Shokintei! This is a winter tea room.
- Shokatei, a spring tea room
- Shoiken is a summer tea room
- Unfortunately, Shoin (drawing room) was under construction
- Gepparo, an autumn tea room!
Reservations are recommended!
Reservations are highly recommended! ! ! Please note that Katsura Imperial Villa requires reservations in principle. If you haven’t made a reservation, you need to line up early in the morning and take the tour at any time of the day on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if you don’t go early, the tickets for the day will fill up quickly. For more information, please visit the official website (here).
I came to Kyoto without knowing that reservations were required, so I eagerly waited in line early in the morning! ! ! Luckily, I was able to slip into the tour starting at 9am that day.
It’s quite far from the station, so we recommend taking a taxi to save time and energy.
Katsura Imperial Villa always has a tour guide
A knowledgeable guide will tell you about the highlights of Katsura Imperial Villa.
It’s a fairly vast garden, where you discover something new every time you walk, and there’s a beautiful harmony wherever you look 360 degrees. As expected, it has been called a masterpiece of Japanese garden.
Who built Katsura Imperial Villa?
This is a Japanese garden built in the 17th century by the first Imperial Prince Hachijonomiya Tomohito and Imperial Prince Tomotada. It seems that construction began in the early Edo period and reached its current appearance in 1622.
From Miyukimichi to Miyukimon!
Tour starts! Katsura Imperial Villa is only occupied by tour guests who have made reservations, so it has a quiet and solemn atmosphere.
The garden was deliberately hidden from view for later enjoyment.
This outside seat is the first place people stop by when visiting the garden. Although it is set up as a waiting area, the garden is intentionally hidden from view. The fun part comes later! !
Let’s finally go to the center of the garden!
A beautiful scenery inspired by Amanohashidate welcomes you. The area covered with stones in the foreground is Suhama, which resembles a sandy beach. A lantern is placed at the tip, resembling a lighthouse on a cape. The stone bridge visible in the background is likened to Amanohashidate.
This is Shokintei! This is a winter tea room.
This is a tea room with a distinctive checkered interior. From the outside, it looks like a rustic thatched house in the countryside.
Shokatei, a spring tea room
It is located at the highest point in the Imperial Villa. You can enjoy the only view overlooking the Katsura Imperial Villa.
This is Onrindo. It seems that it was built as a Buddhist temple.
Shoiken is a summer tea room
There is a pond in front and a boat dock. The scenery under the eaves, which combines various stones, is also very stylish. Each tea room has its own unique design.
Unfortunately, Shoin (drawing room) was under construction
Since it was under construction, I could only see part of it.
Gepparo, an autumn tea room!
As the name suggests, it was built as a tea room for viewing the moon. The view is spectacular, and the view of the garden from here looks like a painting.
I’ve included various photos, mainly of the tea room! It’s a wonderful garden that you should see from various angles, and the photos here are not enough.
The scenery you see will vary depending on the season and the weather. There is no doubt that this is a garden that you will never get tired of no matter how many times you visit! ! ! ! !
This is a garden that you should definitely visit at least once when you visit Japan.
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＜Access＞
Address: Katsuramisono, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, 615-8014, Japan
Train:Hankyu Railway / about 20 minutes from Katsura Station
Bus: Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus / about 15 minutes from Katsura-rikyu-mae bus stop
Map:
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