Construction of the Shugakuin Imperial Villa began under Emperor Emeritus Go-Mizunoo between 1655 and 1656 during the Edo period, and was completed around 1959.The Shugakuin Imperial Villa encompasses three areas: the Upper Villa, Middle Villa, and Lower Villa. Its vast grounds include the pine-lined paths connecting each villa and the adjacent farmland.
Among them, the Upper Palace features a strolling garden with the Yokuryu-chi Pond set against the backdrop of Mt.Shugakuin-yama, and this view is highly recommended.You can view the Yokuryu-chi Pond from the Kyusui-tei Pavilion on a small island in the pond and the Rinun-tei Pavilion on a small hill.Unfortunately, Rinun-tei was under renovation on the day I visited, so I couldn’t see that view.However, since I visited in October, the rice fields adjacent to the garden were ripe with grain, allowing me to feel the autumn atmosphere.
This Shugakuin Imperial Villa originally consisted of two parts: the Upper Villa and the Lower Villa. The Middle Villa was added in later times.Furthermore, when it was first constructed, there were no walls surrounding this vast grounds, and the path lined with pine trees was simply a dirt path. Today, it is managed by the Imperial Household Agency as imperial property, alongside the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho), Kyoto Omiya Palace (Kyoto Omiya Gosho), Kyoto Sento Palace (Kyoto Sento Gosho), and Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu).
As expected of a site managed by the Imperial Household Agency, garden visits are restricted in terms of viewing times and walking routes.Therefore, you cannot freely take photos anywhere within the gardens. While admission is free, you must make a reservation in advance via the website.However, since the number of reservations is limited, securing a reservation becomes difficult during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.When you come to Kyoto, be sure to visit the Shugakuin Imperial Villa in the suburbs.
To get to Shugakuin Imperial Villa, board the Eizan Railway at Demachi-yanagi Station and get off at Shugakuin-mae. From there, it’s a little over a 20-minute walk.
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
https://kyoto-gosho.kunaicho.go.jp/en/shugakuin-rikyu/visit
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