Four Imperial Properties in Kyoto

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) has a history of over one thousand years. It is located within the beautiful Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. Kyoto Gosho was the home of the Emperor of Japan and his family until the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869 (Meiji Restoration). During the Edo period (1603 - 1868), the center of the country's political power was concentrated here.

Sento Imperial Palace (Sento Gosho) in Kyoto was a residence for retired emperors. The well-known samurai, garden designer, architect, and tea master Kobori Enshu (1579 – 1647) was responsible for the garden layout. He was famous for his minimalist aesthetic and approach and incorporated the beautiful seasonal changes in the garden scenery. Sento Gosho was built in 1630 near the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the corresponding Omiya Palace.

The Shugakuin Imperial Villa (Shugaku-in Rikyu) in the northeastern part of Kyoto includes three villas (Lower, Middle, and Upper) and their surrounding Japanese gardens. It covers an area of approximately 54.500 square meters. Emperor Emeritus Gomizuno (1596 – 1680) gave the order to build the Shugakuin Imperial Villa in Kyoto as a royal pleasure garden. It took from 1656 - 1659 to finish the project.

The Katsura Imperial Villa is located in the southwestern part of the city of Kyoto. Prince Toshihito (1579 – 1629) gave the order for this project as a detached palace. It took from 1615 to about 1662 to finish it. The buildings and gardens cover an area of approximately 69.000 square meters. The garden design is unmatched in its beauty and praised by many visitors.