Katsura Imperial Villa
Katsura Imperial Villa
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Application in advance is highly recommended.
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This beautiful home belonged to members of the Katsura family, one of the Imperial families of Japan. The home displays some very traditional Japanese architecture and landscape design.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
490 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
89
Average
27
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7
Terrible
8
szotdogs
Melbourne, Australia371 contributions
Dec 2019
Even in winter, this garden is excellent. I can only imagine how amazing it would be in spring or autumn.
You do have to apply in advance for a tour (I think you can try on the day but not recommended) and it does cost 1000 yen, but it is completely worth it.
You do have to apply in advance for a tour (I think you can try on the day but not recommended) and it does cost 1000 yen, but it is completely worth it.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elvira E
Malvern, Australia21 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
The Katsura Imperial Villa is a collection of teahouses, a temple, a viewing platform collectively designed with the purpose of moon watching... not that the premises are open at night to do just that. It is because of the carefully designed landscaping, including use of the "borrowed landscape", the placement of the pavilions and their design that this site has gained the status of icon in the world of architecture and urban design. Architects the world over have visited and gained inspiration from Katsura Imperial Villa. However, the approach to the location where this iconic villa exists is a nightmare. There is a train station marked "Katsura"—the name of the general area. But with respect to the information about how to get to the actual location on public transport, that is nothing short of appalling. Signage is virtually non-existent and the bus staff at Katsura railway station look at you as if you are asking for the way to Mars if you ask for directions to Katsura Villa. Given the villa is one of the wonders of architecture, and the fact you have to book a tour and pay money for the privilege, should it not be a little easier on the tourist to actually get to the right location. I went up and down many blind alleys in the rain to finally determine its whereabouts.
Written 5 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joane F
Birmingham, MI13 contributions
Jun 2023
The Imperial Villa is historically interesting. The doors were open when we visited and you could see inside, which was a great treat. The gardens are stunning, like a fairy tale. Worth the visit and I would return.
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff K
Pittsburgh, PA2,250 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My wife and I took the last tour of the day 4:20. The tour lasted an hour and the guide was extremely good. She spoke very good English, was very informative and personable. The gardens were very old and very impressive. We were glad we took for the tour
The tour is the only way to see the villa. You need to reserve in advance and bring a passport. We had 10-12 people on the tour which is likely the limit. The place is out of the way but worth the effort.
The tour is the only way to see the villa. You need to reserve in advance and bring a passport. We had 10-12 people on the tour which is likely the limit. The place is out of the way but worth the effort.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arciboldi
munich65 contributions
May 2012 • Solo
I have spent half a day going and coming from Katsura Imperial Villa, outside Kyoto. You can get there only by reservation at the Imperial Household Agency. Tours are given only in Japanese, lasting precisely 50 min. Foreigners are given an audioguide with minimal explanations and you never know which number to press. This is not a tour, it's a military march. You are not allow to stop on the path, you must move the second when the tour guide steps on. Otherwise, a sinister guy comes behind and starts yelling at you. The group stops in the tiny tea houses for explanations. There, you step on each other's feet and you cannot see anything. because you have 30 people blocking your view. I saw the Katsura Villa exactly 30 seconds, as the group marched by it. No access inside, like with any Imperial property. I stopped to look at the view - the guard started to shout at me in Japanese. I tried to take a picture, so he literally pushed me towards the group. He kept insulting me and mumbling hysterically behind my back the whole tour. They shouldn't hire mentally troubled staff. I felt like in a war movie. There are fantastic gardens in Kyoto, enjoy them leisurely and forget Katsura and its boot-camp tour. You won't get much of it anyway.
Written 12 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne S
Brisbane, Australia123 contributions
Vited Katsura Imperial Villa late October which I booked on-line 3 months ago.
Absolutely loved the garden. The tours are only in Japanese though they supply an audio guide which is easy to use and follow. The tour is and hour long and it's a very leisurely unrushed stroll through the garden. There are some narrow sections, uneven stones and stairs so not well suited for wheelchair access. The garden is exceptional in it's beauty and very well maintained. You cannot enter the numerous tea houses along the way though as they're not large you can easily see in and take pictures.
I won't write about the History as all that information is easily acquired by doing and internet search. When you go onto the Imperial Household website there are a few venues to choose from. Click on Katsura Villa then of Application to visit. They open the bookings 3 months in advance at the beginning of each month, with a choice of 6 time slots a day (Monday- Friday) I recommend getting in early each month as it books up quickly. As example bookings for February 2009 just opened beginning of November and 5 day's later it's already half booked out.
If you go to Kasura don't bother with the Imperial Palace if time is short as the garden is ordinary in comparison, and you can't get as close to the buildings or see much inside.
The tour we went on had around 40-50 people. They must have some no shows each day so it's worth ringing to ask if you can't book ahead of time. I wouldn't risk just turning up as you are not allowed into the grounds without a pass.
We walked from the train station which took about 20min. We took the route suggested on their website; past the bus stop then along the Eastern side of the garden near the river. I didn't think this was very safe on the river side as there's no footpath and the passing traffic is very close. Returning back to the train station we walked west from garden entrance then south along the main road, which is safer.
It's free to book so if you're in Kyoto in 3-4 months it's well worth doing.
Absolutely loved the garden. The tours are only in Japanese though they supply an audio guide which is easy to use and follow. The tour is and hour long and it's a very leisurely unrushed stroll through the garden. There are some narrow sections, uneven stones and stairs so not well suited for wheelchair access. The garden is exceptional in it's beauty and very well maintained. You cannot enter the numerous tea houses along the way though as they're not large you can easily see in and take pictures.
I won't write about the History as all that information is easily acquired by doing and internet search. When you go onto the Imperial Household website there are a few venues to choose from. Click on Katsura Villa then of Application to visit. They open the bookings 3 months in advance at the beginning of each month, with a choice of 6 time slots a day (Monday- Friday) I recommend getting in early each month as it books up quickly. As example bookings for February 2009 just opened beginning of November and 5 day's later it's already half booked out.
If you go to Kasura don't bother with the Imperial Palace if time is short as the garden is ordinary in comparison, and you can't get as close to the buildings or see much inside.
The tour we went on had around 40-50 people. They must have some no shows each day so it's worth ringing to ask if you can't book ahead of time. I wouldn't risk just turning up as you are not allowed into the grounds without a pass.
We walked from the train station which took about 20min. We took the route suggested on their website; past the bus stop then along the Eastern side of the garden near the river. I didn't think this was very safe on the river side as there's no footpath and the passing traffic is very close. Returning back to the train station we walked west from garden entrance then south along the main road, which is safer.
It's free to book so if you're in Kyoto in 3-4 months it's well worth doing.
Written 4 November 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lantagee
Cairns, Australia10 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
I give katsura such a low rating not because it's so bad but because it's so overrated. It's out of central kyoto in in an area with almost nothing. You have to book in advance but if you are in kyoto for a short time there are so many other better places which are more convenient so dont bother.
If you actually go there, first you have to wait in an office reception room that hasnt been renewed in 30 years, you wouldnt believe this is part of an Imperial Villa. Next, you only get one hour to visit the garden and are shephered the whole time by the official guide. He drones on in Japanese most of the hour(you can get different languages which you can listen to by earphone, but do you want that in the garden?) The whole time you are kept together with the group and anyone who attempts to drift away is quickly herded back. For me there is almost no chance to enjoy the garden and see it on your own terms. If it wasnt an Imperial Villa nobody would bother to go. If you want to see a really impressive Imperial garden try to book Shugakuin in northern kyoto, that really is magnificient.
If you actually go there, first you have to wait in an office reception room that hasnt been renewed in 30 years, you wouldnt believe this is part of an Imperial Villa. Next, you only get one hour to visit the garden and are shephered the whole time by the official guide. He drones on in Japanese most of the hour(you can get different languages which you can listen to by earphone, but do you want that in the garden?) The whole time you are kept together with the group and anyone who attempts to drift away is quickly herded back. For me there is almost no chance to enjoy the garden and see it on your own terms. If it wasnt an Imperial Villa nobody would bother to go. If you want to see a really impressive Imperial garden try to book Shugakuin in northern kyoto, that really is magnificient.
Written 24 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer A
Sydney, Australia17 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
None of the tourist sites or books etc told us we needed to get approval to visit here and you cant buy tickets when you get there.
Written 1 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
malou1001
Berlin25 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
The imperial villas in Katsura are an absolute must for anybody who is interested in classical Japanes Architecture and Gardens. To get there is not so easy, because you have to obtain a permission for your visit and you have to turn up in person (with your passport in hand) at the Royal Household Information Office at the Palace Compound in Central Kyoto. Foreigners can get an appointmet at short notice while Japanese citizens have to wait their turn (which apparently can take some time and cannot be predicted). Once you have your permit the entrance is free and all you have to do is to be there in time (having taken a Hankyu train from Shijo Station). What you will find exceeds all expectations. The exiled German architect Bruno Taut brought this ensemble to international attention in the 1930s comparing it to the Parthenon in terms of its importance for World Architectural Heritage and he did not exaggerate. The whole idea of this site is of course totally decadent but the refinement of buildings and grounds is without comparison and the beauty of it all intoxicating. Unfortunately you are not allowed inside the buildings, but if you have studied the plans beforehand you get a fair idea of the relationship of internal and external spaces. So far so amazing- the only thing that detracts from this wonder is the tour that you are given: Our group consisted of approx. 20 Japanese and 5 or so Western visitors. You have to watch a video beforehand (nothing like a virtual experience before you see the real thing...) which also serves as a detailed instruction of the dos and don’ts. Once you are out there you are followed closely by a secret service style heavy, who constantly asks you to move faster and grumbles when you take photographs other than the obvious ones. Step off one of the stepping stones and he will bark at you, start lingering around in order to get a picture of the pavillions without all the other people in the foreground and he will virtually manhandle you along. Given the usual level of politeness in Japan this guy was acting like a hooligan. What exacerbated the situation in our case was a tour guide who decided to shout his comments at the top of his voice preferably across bits of lake. If you don’t understand at all, Japanese can be quite a hard language and this guy sounded like an angry corporal in front of his marines. The screaming man in front and the growling dog behind were so incongruous with the sublime environment of this site, that it really started to get to me after a while. One is also issued with an audio guide and if you listen into that it provides useful information and welcome distraction from these two characters. Why the Imperial Household has decided to first invite the country’s visitors into this marvel so generously and then to ruin the experience with this very unusaul –and totally untypical- performance remains a total enigma- maybe the site is really run by the Military due to its Royal affiliation. However let our experience not discourage you. It is probably the most amazing garden ensemble there is. It is currently a little over-renovated in places, but I trust that the super-polish of newly constructed surfaces will wear off a little with time.
Written 28 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy P
Hong Kong, China654 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Must reserve the seat online and approved by lucky drawn only, entrance fee is ¥1000. All visitors are required to follow the guide, English speaking. The garden is well designed and all trees are well planted. There are many tea houses. All buildings were constructed in 1665, never experienced any fire and war destroy. Highly recommend to go.
Written 9 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vorrei visitare Villa Katsura. Come devo fare ? Grazie
I would like to visit Villa Katsura. How can I do ? Thank you.
Written 27 January 2020
Deve compilare l'application sul sito
Non mi fa mettere il link tolga gli spazi da questo pezzo di indirizzo:
sankan. kunaicho. go. jp
Written 27 January 2020
Two of us will be arriving by ship to Kobe at 10:00 a.m. on August 16. We want to take a train to Kyoto and hopefully visit these exquisite gardens. Hopefully we are not too late in asking, but will you allow 2 more people in that day?
Written 29 July 2019
Hi, It's not up to me but the Imperial Household Office who are situated at the entrance to the old palace courtyard. From Kobe, port it's about 2 hours at least. You can try but it is highly unlikely you'll get in. I had to wait two weeks for a time and if you miss your appointment without good excuse, you're in their database of no-shows. Anyway, good luck.
Written 30 July 2019
Como comprar los tickets para visitar la villa imperial katsura
Written 17 July 2019
Has anyone had the experience of successfully queueing for tickets on the day? If so, any tips on how early one should go (I think the counter opens at 8.40 but I assume people turn up earlier than that) and what kind of size of crowd one could expect?
Written 7 August 2018
we went in March. It was lovely then but then again they had a very hot spring so we were lucky to have the start fo the cherry blossoms but I think that the gardens were designed for all seasons and I am sure winter will be beautiful in a different way
Written 14 August 2018
your review was in december,so Thought I would ask...I will be there in early december...is the garden worth seeing in this cold month?
Written 1 August 2018
冬の桂離宮は、また、観るところ、たくさんあります。
行けば、おとぎの国のような世界が、広がっていることでしょう。是非、行ってみてください。
Written 1 November 2018
Do I need to pre-book a tour or just go there?
Written 19 April 2018
My friends in Tokyo tell me that yes , you can go without a booking ( as mentioned by Gumer Q's
response ) , but still recommend booking in case the day you go is full . It is quite a distance to go and miss out . If you are going by car , there is plenty of parking ( free ) there .
Written 24 April 2018
Unfortunately, by
“Guidelines for taking part in the tours of
Katsura Imperial Villa” , Participant has to be
18 years of age or older.
Written 8 March 2017
Is there parking nearby. Stated another way, can I drive there and park?
Written 2 October 2016
Yes, there is parking lot. See the map from the Villa Visitor Guide
under "access".
Written 3 October 2016
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