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Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kansai - Kyoto
Katsura Imperial Villa	# 35   of 46 sights in Kyoto

Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu) 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.

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

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.

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Popularity of Katsura Villa: Users who have been to Kyoto: 2353 Users who have been to Katsura Villa: 113 35th of 46 most visited sights in Kyoto. 203rd of 589 most visited sights nationwide. Have you been to Katsura Villa? No - I have not been there yetYes - no ratingYes - highly recommendedYes - recommendedYes - mildly interestingYes - nothing specialYes - not recommended Ratings for Katsura Villa: japan-guide.com Rating:   best of Japan   User Rating (by 61 users): 86/100   recommended User Feedback We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

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Tours and Packages

Kyoto Winter Special 2010 Dine in the company of geisha, uncover hidden cultural artifacts, or stroll through the lights of Arashiyama with these tours. Kyoto Tours Various tours and travel packages for Kyoto and surroundings.

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.