Kyoto Travel: Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu)

Travel

Living

A-Z

Forum

Jobs

Friends

Shopping

Food

Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kansai - Kyoto - Western Kyoto

Katsura Imperial Villa

of 59 most visited
sights in Kyoto

jump to: access - admission - hotels - ratings - tours - links

Katsura Imperial Villa (Śj—Ł‹{, Katsura Rikyū) is one of the finest examples of purely Japanese architecture and garden design. The villa and garden in their present form were completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan's Imperial Family.

The villa can be viewed only on tours held by the Imperial Household Agency. They last about one hour and are in Japanese only, however, an English audio guide is available. During the tour, the tour group walks along the garden's circular walking trail around the central pond. The palace buildings can be viewed only from the outside. Photographing is allowed only from a few designated spots.

Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

Katsura Rikyu is located in western Kyoto, a 15 minute walk from Katsura Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. Alternatively, you can reach the villa by Kyoto City Bus number 33 from Kyoto Station in about 20 minutes. Get off at "Katsura Rikyu-mae" bus stop.

How to get to and around Kyoto

Google Map

Hours and Fees

Free tours of Katsura Imperial Villa are held several times daily in Japanese only. No tours are held on Sundays and national holidays. Most Saturdays are also unavailable. Check with the agency for an up to date schedule.

To book a tour, you need to apply in advance with your passport at the Imperial Household Agency's office in Kyoto Imperial Park. Reservations are often possible on the same day as the intended visit. The agency office is open Monday to Friday from 8:45 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00.

Additionally, a small number of tour spots are available for reservation over the agency's website (see links below), however, these often get booked out. Online reservations must be completed several days before the intended visit.

Advertisement

Hotels and Ryokan

Kyoto offers a wide range of accommodation for all budgets and tastes, including historic ryokan, Western style hotels and low-budget hostels. Among the most attractive districts to stay are the Kyoto Station area, the city center around Shijo Street and the Higashiyama District.

Search Hotels

Sponsor Hotels

	Hotel Sugicho A ryokan in the center of Kyoto town. From 4000yen. 4 train stations are within walking distance. Try the Kyoto Kaiseki.
	Japanese hotel, Ryokan Nishiyama Experience the real Japan at our affordable ryokan. Close to major tourist spots in Kyoto.
	Ryokan Hirashin 3min walk to Shijo Karasuma Sta. Spacious Japanese-style rooms. 140 years of history. Public baths renovated in 2006.
	Guest house Yahata Bed and breakfast with dormitories from 2500yen. One stop from Kyoto Station by subway. Walking distance to downtown Kyoto.

Backpackers Hostel Ks House Kyoto
One of Kyoto's most popular hostels. A ten minute walk from Kyoto Station.
Reserve through Agoda

Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Located inside Kyoto Station, this is Kyoto's most convenient 4-star hotel.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto
Inexpensive, no-frills business hotel conveniently located across Kyoto Station.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

Hyatt Regency Kyoto Hotel
Elegant luxury hotel located near Sanjusangendo Temple.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

New Miyako Hotel Kyoto
Just across the street from Kyoto Station, this is a very convenient 3-star hotel.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

Tours and Packages

Kyoto Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Kyoto and surroundings.

User Ratings

Ratings for Katsura Villa:

japan-guide.com Rating:		best of Japan
User Rating (by 117 users):	87/100	recommended

Best rated sights nationwide (out of 725):

110. Porotokotan (Noboribetsu) 87/100

111. Nagasaki Peace Park (Nagasaki) 87/100

112. Shimanami Kaido (Onomichi) 87/100

113. Ocean Expo Park (Okinawa Island) 87/100

114. Ginkakuji (Kyoto) 87/100

115. Katsura Villa (Kyoto) 87/100

116. Lake Towada (Lake Towada) 87/100

117. Kibune (Kyoto) 87/100

118. Keta Taisha Shrine (Noto Peninsula) 87/100

119. Mount Inasa (Nagasaki) 87/100

Most visited sights nationwide (out of 836):

246. Sanzenin Temple (Kyoto) 254

247. Lake Akan (Akan National Park) 252

248. Shiroi Koibito Park (Sapporo) 249

249. Toyota Related Sights (Nagoya) 248

250. Gora Park (Hakone) 247

251. Katsura Villa (Kyoto) 246

252. Peace Osaka (Osaka) 244

253. Historic Village (Sapporo) 242

254. Botanic Garden (Sapporo) 237

255. Ninjadera (Kanazawa) 236

User Feedback

English Links

Imperial Household Agency
Official English website.

Application for Visit
English application page.

Japanese Links

Imperial Household Agency
Official website.

Application for Visit
Japanese application page.

Related Pages

Travel
Sightseeing
Kansai Region
Kyoto

Central Kyoto
Eastern Kyoto
Northern Kyoto
Southern Kyoto

Western Kyoto
Arashiyama
Tenryuji Temple
Daikakuji Temple
Sagano Scenic Railway
Hozugawa River Cruise
Myoshinji Temple
Toei Eigamura
Kokedera Temple
Katsura Villa
Yoshiminedera Temple

Gardens

Emperor
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Sento Imperial Palace
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
Katsura Imperial Villa

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Kyoto: Access and Orientation

News and Reports

	April 11, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	April 8, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	April 4, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by schauwecker
	April 1, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	March 28, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	March 24, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by scott
	March 20, 2013 Kyoto Cherry Blossom Report by scott
	December 2, 2012 Kyoto Autumn Color Report by scott
More reports...

Related Questions

Transport to Katsura Villa
2 reactions, last updated 931 days ago
Gion - What is good in daytime?
2 reactions, last updated 47 minutes ago
Half a day in Kyoto
3 reactions, last updated 28 hours ago
Elevator/escalator at Kyoto's Shijo...
1 reaction, last updated 44 hours ago
Cycle from Kinkakuji to Arashiyama
1 reaction, last updated 44 hours ago
Where to rent a bike close to Arashiyama?...
2 reactions, last updated 3 days ago
Mount Hieizan shuttle bus one day pass
0 reactions, last updated 3 days ago
Kyoto - Late Arrival & Hotel Check-In
0 reactions, last updated 3 days ago
Arashiyama - Sagano Train Ride
8 reactions, last updated 4 days ago
Evening visit to Fushimi Inari
6 reactions, last updated 4 days ago
Taking pictures of (or with)...
7 reactions, last updated 5 days ago
Tenryuji under renovation?
1 reaction, last updated 5 days ago
Access to Momijiya Honkan Takao Sanso...
4 reactions, last updated 6 days ago
Mifune festival boating
1 reaction, last updated 12 days ago
Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera in a...
7 reactions, last updated 16 days ago
Is there a cloak room at Kyoto Station
3 reactions, last updated 19 days ago
Getting Around Kyoto
7 reactions, last updated 19 days ago
Kyoto Passes
4 reactions, last updated 20 days ago
Nijo Jinya Tours
1 reaction, last updated 20 days ago
Bus to Fushimi Inari
3 reactions, last updated 21 days ago

Travel		Living	Japan A-Z		Community
Sightseeing Accommodation Transportation Shopping	Essentials Regions Prefectures Cities	Working Studying Living Cost Apartments	Arts and Crafts Entertainment History Religion	Etiquette Food Language Tradition	Question Forum Classifieds Trip Reports Member Area

Sightseeing Guide
Hokkaido Sapporo Otaru Hakodate Noboribetsu Niseko Furano Daisetsuzan Shiretoko more...	Tohoku Sendai Matsushima Hiraizumi Hachimantai Hirosaki Lake Towada Dewa Sanzan Aizu more...	Kanto Tokyo Yokohama Kamakura Hakone Nikko Kawagoe Kusatsu Narita more...	Chubu Nagoya Mount Fuji Izu Peninsula Matsumoto Kiso Valley Takayama Shirakawa-go Kanazawa more...	Kansai Kyoto Osaka Nara Kobe Himeji Mount Koya Kumano Ise Shima more...	Chugoku Hiroshima Miyajima Okayama Kurashiki Tottori Matsue Iwakuni Hagi more...	Shikoku Takamatsu Kotohira Naoshima Matsuyama Kochi Tokushima Naruto Iya Valley more...	Kyushu Fukuoka Nagasaki Kumamoto Mount Aso Beppu Kagoshima Kirishima Yakushima more...	Okinawa Honto Kume Miyako Yaeyama