Kyoto Shugakuin Imperial Villa

Simple, peaceful, rustic place for Emperor Go-mizunoo

Tomoko Kamishima May 17, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Commanding view of lake and mountains</p>

<p>Beautiful paper sliding screens in guest house</p>

<p>Shallow stream running into man-made lake</p>

<p>Roofed bridge called Chitosebashi</p>

<p>There is a man-made lake over the hedge (and dike)</p>

<p>The lake beyond the hedge (and dike)</p>

<p>Jugetsukan teahouse at the lower villa</p>

<p>Man-made lake and peaceful garden</p>

<p>Fields spread out over the grounds of the villa</p>

Shugakuin Rikyu (Imperial Villa) was a retreat designed by Emperor Go-mizunoo. It was completed in 1655 in the early Edo Era. The total area of the villa is 54,500 square meters, almost equal to that of Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. Ninety percent of the grounds are terraced fields and local farmers still cultivate them even now. The emperor loved working in the fields and communicating with farmers. There are three teahouses that are connected by paths through rice paddies lined with well-trimmed pine trees. Nijo-jo Castle, the Shogun's Kyoto residence at the same time in Japan's history was gorgeous and showy. But Shugakuin Rikyu was a simple, peaceful, and rustic place. You need to make a special application to visit this beautiful villa.

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Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima

Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...