Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Southwest Kyoto
The southwest area of Kyoto is a sprawling residential and commercial area that few for-
eign tourists ever visit. Despite the relatively drab surroundings, however, there are three
very worthwhile sights here: Katsura Rikyū Imperial Villa; the stunning Saihō-ji, Kyoto's
famed Moss Temple; and Jizo-in, a quaint little temple with a tiny moss garden.
For transport to and from this area, see the transport information for the following
sights.
| NOTABLE BUILDING
KATSURA RIKYŪ IMPERIAL VILLA
( 211-1215; Katsura Misono, Nishikyō-ku)
Katsura Rikyū, one of Kyoto's imperial properties, is
widely considered to be the pinnacle of Japanese traditional architecture and garden
design. Set amid an otherwise drab neighbourhood, it is (very literally) an island of in-
credible beauty. There are those, however, who feel that the troublesome application pro-
cess, the distance of the villa from Downtown and the need to join a regimented tour de-
tracts from the experience.
The villa was built in 1624 for the emperor's brother, Prince Toshihito. Every conceiv-
able detail of the villa - the tea-houses, the large pond with islets and the surrounding
garden - has been given meticulous attention.
Tours (in Japanese) start at 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm, and last 40 minutes. Try to be
there 20 minutes before the start time. An explanatory video is shown in the waiting room
and a leaflet is provided in English.
You must make reservations, usually several weeks in advance, through the Imperial
To get to the villa from Kyoto Station, take bus 33 and get off at the Katsura Rikyū-mae
stop, which is a five-minute walk from the villa. The easiest access from the city centre is
to take a Hankyū line train from Kawaramachi Station to Katsura Station line, which is a
15-minute walk from the villa. A taxi from Katsura Station to the villa will cost about
¥700. Note that some
tokkyū
(express) trains don't stop in Katsura.
SAIHŌ-JI
( 391-3631; 56 Jingatani-chō, Matsuo, Nishikyō-ku; admission ¥3000)
The main attraction at this temple
is the heart-shaped garden, designed in 1339 by Musō Kokushi. The garden is famous for
its luxuriant mossy growth - hence the temple's other name, Koke-dera (Moss Temple). It
| TEMPLE, GARDEN
