Katsura Imperial Villa Tours and Activities

The Tale of Genji, a very well-known 11th century Japanese novel, was the inspiration for the elegant landscaping and architecture of the beautiful Katsura Imperal Villa. This opulent home was built in the 17th century by Prince Toshihito.

The The Tale of Genji is thought to be the first modern novel, and was written by a Japanese noblewoman called Murasaki Shikibu during the peak of the Heian Period. The book is all about the lives of high courtiers during that period in upper class Japan. Prince Toshihito was a huge fan of the novel and used his wealth and resources to recreate the elegant setting contained within the work of literature. He poured his fortunes into recreating the villas, gardens and teahouses that are described in the novel a project that was continued by his son after his death. He added even more teahouses and expanded the gardens.

The villa first became famous internationally when it was featured in a book by Bruno Taut, a German architect. Since then, the Katsura Imperial Villa has fascinated many modernist architects, including Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. They were in awe of the sleek and stylised geometric patterns and surfaces used within the design.

When you arrive at the villa, you will be shown a film about its history. Then you can explore the teahouses. Each of these is designed in a different style, so take the time to visit them all. Take a look at the Flower Appreciation Pavilion, which is ringed by cherry blossoms and offers a beautiful view. The Moon-Wave Pavilion contains a pond to reflect the harvest moon, while the gardens are a great place to see historic Japanese gardening practices and traditional bamboo fences.

Keep in mind that photography is prohibited in certain areas of the site. There are guided tours in Japanese, but you can also get hold of an audio guide in English.

It is free to visit the Katsura Imperial Villa, but you will need to arrange a permit in advance with the Royal Household Information Office, which is located in Kyoto. Bring your passport you will need it in order to apply for the permit. The Katsura Imperial Villa is open on weekdays and can be reached via bus from Kyoto Station.