Day 6: Kyoto – Shugakuin Imperial Villa

Katsura Imperial Villa is situated on the west side of Kyoto, while Shugakuin Imperial Villa is almost on the opposite site in the north-eastern part of the city. So we crossed back through Kawaramachi Station and stopped by for lunch, before traveling by bus for a look at The Philosopher’s Walk, then continuing on another bus to the villa. Shugakuin Villa at 545,000 square meters is 8 times larger than Katsura villa, though 80,000 square meters of this land space is taken up by paddy fields that are part of the villa itself.

Construction for the villa began in 1655 and was completed 4 years later, and in view that it’s located at the foothills of the Higashiyama Mountains boasts of a pretty good view in the right season. The compound comprises of three villas: the lower villa, the middle villa, and the upper villa. Visitation to this villa was administered in pretty much the same way as the tour around Katsura Imperial Villa. The entrance gate was opened punctually 20 minutes before the scheduled tour start at 3:00 PM, with the tour itself taking 80 minutes and through the three villas.

The two villas certainly look and feel very different. The Shugakuin has the luxury of space, and there are some spectacular views of Kyoto city suburbs and mountains beyond from the upper villa. But at the same time, it’s not quite as compact as Isuien Garden or Katsura Imperial Villa, and the season made for pretty monotone pictures. A selection of the better shots as below again:

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Entrance to the Middle Villa.
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The Middle Villa comprises of two buildings, one of which - the Rakushiken comissioned for Princess Akenomiya - is in this picture.
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A stone path leading up somewhere not part of the guided tour route. Hmm.
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A view of Kyoto city suburbs and the mountains beyond from the Rinuntei at the Upper Villa.
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A magnificent view of Yokuryuchi Pond as seen from the Rinuntei.
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A small brook and waterfall as we walked down from the Upper Villa and going around Yokuryuchi Pond.
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Chitosebashi Bridge, which connects two islets together in the Pond.
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Kaedebashi Bridge.
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The Kyusuitei teahouse, located at the highest point of the islet in the middle of Yokuryuchi Pond.
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Boat landing in the Pond.