Shugakuin Imperial Villa

Shugakuin Imperial Villa is an Imperial household facility located at the foot of Mount Hiei in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. It is a mountain villa built by the shogunate to console the retired Emperor Gomizunoo after he was forced to abdicate due to the Purple Robe Incident of 1629. The retired emperor personally chose the site for the villa, designed it himself, and completed it over three years. The villa consists of three areas—the Lower, Middle, and Upper Villas—between which fields spread out and narrow pine-lined paths connect the sections. In the Lower Villa, the Jukyokukan, which served as the retired emperor’s seat, stands within a garden designed for viewing a pond. The Middle Villa originated as the Akamiya Palace built for Princess Mitsuko, and the Guest Hall, relocated from Empress Tofukumon-in’s dressing hall, features splendid decorations with a distinctly elegant, feminine brilliance. Among its highlights, the Kasumi Shelf, said to be one of the "three greatest shelves" in Japan, is a must-see. The Upper Villa is a grand garden centered on the huge artificial pond Yokuryuchi, with small teahouses arranged around it. The view from the Rinuntei teahouse on the hillside is spectacular, offering vistas of the pond’s islets and bridges and, in the distance, the Kurama and Kibune area. Advance reservation is required, with applications accepted from the 1st day of the month three months prior to the desired visit date.