Villa Katsura

Functional-harmonious architectural style Katsura-rikyu a world famous Imperial Villa Katsura is located in the southwestern part of Kyoto. Many temples are dotted along the west bank of the gently winding Katsura-gawa River. Katsura-rikyu Imperial Villa was built in Katsura in the 17th century, as a country house for the Imperial Family. It took 35 years to complete the construction. There is the Shoin (study room) consisting of three buildings in sukiyazukuri style, the Koshoin, Chushoin and Shin-goten, which surround a pond created from the water of the Katsura-gawa River pouring into this vast premise with an area of 56,000 sq. meters. There is also a garden with a circular promenade and a tearoom, creating a harmonious beauty with the architecture. All have been preserved in their original style. It is believed that the imperial people of olden times viewed the moon from a moon viewing deck projecting out onto the water or from a boat floating on the pond and have enjoyed both a moon in the sky and a moon reflected in the water. Katsura-rikyu is known throughout the world since it was introduced in an overseas magazine by Bruno Taut, a German architect. He came to Japan and praised its beauty of sophisticated architecture harmonized with the water that surrounds them. There are many shrines and temples around the Katsura-rikyu area. The god of sake brewing at the Umenomiya-taisha and Matsuo-taisha shrines attracts many worshippers. Kegon-ji Temple is known for its suzumushi or "bell-ring" insects that chirp all year round, and Saiho-ji Temple is famous for its garden covered with beautiful mosses like a spreading out of green velvet.