Shugakuin Imperial Villa
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
4.5
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Created as an imperial summer retreat, the garden complex is a fine example of Japanese landscape design.
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Neighborhood: Northern Kyoto
Hot springs and historic temples characterize the leafy landscapes of Northern Kyoto. Acres of tranquil residential streets are interrupted by some of Kyoto's most gorgeous architectural gems, including the majestic Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji, the serene artistry of the Ryoanji Temple rock gardens, and the bold red paint across the structures of Enryakuji Temple. Once a religious core of the city, the district now boasts some of its most remote and peaceful hot springs, as well as a few of its best family-run mom-and-pop restaurants. A blend of extremely local at its outskirts, and highly peopled at its tourist centers, Northern Kyoto nonetheless retains a halcyon air in harmony with nature.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
406 reviews
Excellent
277
Very good
101
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
1
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Sightsee820247
Hiroshima, Japan14 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
We arrived earlier than scheduled and had to use the restroom. They kindly guided us inside. There were quite a few foreigners there, and they were using guide headphones. The building for visitors is currently under repair. We walked inside! We visited the building, which is divided into three parts, in the rice fields. Apparently the surrounding farmland has now been purchased by the Imperial Household Agency. On October 21st, the leaves had just started to change color. It would be even more beautiful a little later! About half of the people who come without a reservation seem to head to another temple a little closer if they can't visit. They flatly refused to let us bring children.

Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Global715255
Tokyo, Japan22,524 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
You have to do advance booking and only 50 people for each tour is allowed in but it is worth it. The view overlooking Kyoto and the surrounded mountains like Mount Hiei was amazing. The autumn foliage was also very beautiful at the beginning of November.
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Jindabyne, Australia577 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
The villa is in three widely separated sections connected by gravel paths. These paths are well graded and easy but the villa gardens contain many steps. The whole tour takes a good hour. An audio device (free) provides a commentary in one of five languages, including English. Though the tour is free, restriction of numbers by the Imperial Household Agency, and lately coronavirus, means that the tour is uncrowded and unhurried, though the minder bringing up the rear is fond of his two-word English vocabulary: Catch up.
The villas are set among terraced fields that have been bought up to preserve the rural setting. The buildings have a classic simplicity, and the gardens range from carefully arranged wilderness to the tame landscape surrounding the pond below the uppermost tea house. A leisurely stop at this tea house gives opportunity to view the parkland below and the borrowed scenery: the city beyond and the northern hills stretching into the distance.
The villas are set among terraced fields that have been bought up to preserve the rural setting. The buildings have a classic simplicity, and the gardens range from carefully arranged wilderness to the tame landscape surrounding the pond below the uppermost tea house. A leisurely stop at this tea house gives opportunity to view the parkland below and the borrowed scenery: the city beyond and the northern hills stretching into the distance.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
מריה ר
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The location itself and the garden were very beautiful!
However, the tour experience for non-Japanese speakers was awful. Firstly, you couldn't access the garden without a guided tour. The tour was conducted only in Japanese, and while they offered an audio guide at the reception, no one informed us of this, even though they provided us with an English brochure at the reception desk. Unfortunately, once the tour began, there was no opportunity to go back and get the audio guide.
Secondly, the Japanese guide used a microphone, so even if you had the audio guide, it was challenging to hear due to the Japanese guide's speaking over the microphone.
Lastly, you were required to stay close to the guide at all times; there was no option to step aside if you wanted to listen to the audio guide. Additionally, there was always another guard following the group with a stick and a bell.
It was an hour and a half that I definitely could have spent more efficiently.
However, the tour experience for non-Japanese speakers was awful. Firstly, you couldn't access the garden without a guided tour. The tour was conducted only in Japanese, and while they offered an audio guide at the reception, no one informed us of this, even though they provided us with an English brochure at the reception desk. Unfortunately, once the tour began, there was no opportunity to go back and get the audio guide.
Secondly, the Japanese guide used a microphone, so even if you had the audio guide, it was challenging to hear due to the Japanese guide's speaking over the microphone.
Lastly, you were required to stay close to the guide at all times; there was no option to step aside if you wanted to listen to the audio guide. Additionally, there was always another guard following the group with a stick and a bell.
It was an hour and a half that I definitely could have spent more efficiently.
Written September 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stkyn
Minatomirai, Japan155 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Touring temples is a standard part of sightseeing in Kyoto, but I think places like these connected to the Imperial Family are also important, in fact, these are the places that are most important, to understand Japanese culture.
It's free, and you can tour it with a guide from the Imperial Household Agency, so there's no reason not to go.
You can experience a part of the essence of Japanese culture.
The only downside is that it's quite far from the station. There is a paid parking lot about a two-minute walk away.
It's free, and you can tour it with a guide from the Imperial Household Agency, so there's no reason not to go.
You can experience a part of the essence of Japanese culture.
The only downside is that it's quite far from the station. There is a paid parking lot about a two-minute walk away.

Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boabin
Seoul, South Korea70 contributions
Jan 2020
A lot of the reviews do agree that you can get access if you are already in Kyoto, sometimes they have free slots in other tours. This can be fine during low seasons but I think during the cherry blossom and fall it would be best to secure a ticket in advance, just in case.
It is free, which is brilliant for anyone wanting to rein in their spending whilst visiting the city. The tour itself is in Japanese, you can pick up a free headset in English at reception to understand the grounds and villa. Each site is numbered, follow those numbers to listen to each track.
The views are spectacular and worth seeing. There is a lot of culture artistically embedded throughout the buildings and garden. Truly a national wonder. Obviously the pond is the main highlight and most photographed but don't neglect to look carefully at the doors inside the buildings or the hidden waterfalls.
It is free, which is brilliant for anyone wanting to rein in their spending whilst visiting the city. The tour itself is in Japanese, you can pick up a free headset in English at reception to understand the grounds and villa. Each site is numbered, follow those numbers to listen to each track.
The views are spectacular and worth seeing. There is a lot of culture artistically embedded throughout the buildings and garden. Truly a national wonder. Obviously the pond is the main highlight and most photographed but don't neglect to look carefully at the doors inside the buildings or the hidden waterfalls.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yura M
4 contributions
Nov 2023
Shugakuin Imperial Villa quickly became my favorite spot in the area. Stepping through its gates, you're greeted by a vast expanse of land, complete with rice paddies—exactly what you'd expect from an imperial retreat in Japan.
A guided tour in English is provided, which seems more like a measure to keep visitors from wandering off the designated path than a mere service. Personally, I would have preferred to explore in silence, absorbing the serene beauty at my own pace.
Despite the guided narration, tuning out to solely focus on the unique architecture and the harmony of the buildings with nature was a truly enriching experience. And amazingly, it's all free of charge.
Shugakuin Imperial Villa offers a tranquil yet profound experience, its expansive grounds and distinctive ambiance leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
A guided tour in English is provided, which seems more like a measure to keep visitors from wandering off the designated path than a mere service. Personally, I would have preferred to explore in silence, absorbing the serene beauty at my own pace.
Despite the guided narration, tuning out to solely focus on the unique architecture and the harmony of the buildings with nature was a truly enriching experience. And amazingly, it's all free of charge.
Shugakuin Imperial Villa offers a tranquil yet profound experience, its expansive grounds and distinctive ambiance leaving a lasting impression on visitors.
Written November 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
synthesis
Los Angeles, CA68 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
We went a few days before our visit to the Imperial Household Agency on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. There was no line. With passports in hand, we applied for a tour for Shugakuin Imperial Villa. I had previously tried to make a reservation weeks earlier on the internet, but there was no availability. Going in person seemed to work out better as I was told there are only a limited number of tickets available for advance reservation on the website: (http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english) You must have your passport with you in order to make a reservation. Tours are free.
Built in the mid 17th century, it was one of several imperial residences. There are three villas that you can peer into, but will not be allowed to enter. The large-scale gardens themselves are marvelous. Sophisticated in design, the gardens and views from upper elevations are breathtaking. Every detail is obsessively manicured with precision. There are many views, some intimate and others sweeping and grand in this high level aesthetic experience. In late October and November, the autumn colors are truly spectacular. Shugakuin is unlike any other garden I’ve seen in Japan.
The tour lasts a little over an hour. If you arrive twenty minutes early, you can watch a short film that had English subtitles and was informative. 95% of the visitors in our group were Japanese.
There is a guide in the front of the group and a security guy in the back. An audio guide in English is available, but it seems to represent about 20% of what the human guide is saying in Japanese. Make sure you take whatever photos you want before moving forward. You are not allowed to move backwards. The rather officious guy at the back will hold his arms out and wave them like mad if you try to go back even ten feet.
Built in the mid 17th century, it was one of several imperial residences. There are three villas that you can peer into, but will not be allowed to enter. The large-scale gardens themselves are marvelous. Sophisticated in design, the gardens and views from upper elevations are breathtaking. Every detail is obsessively manicured with precision. There are many views, some intimate and others sweeping and grand in this high level aesthetic experience. In late October and November, the autumn colors are truly spectacular. Shugakuin is unlike any other garden I’ve seen in Japan.
The tour lasts a little over an hour. If you arrive twenty minutes early, you can watch a short film that had English subtitles and was informative. 95% of the visitors in our group were Japanese.
There is a guide in the front of the group and a security guy in the back. An audio guide in English is available, but it seems to represent about 20% of what the human guide is saying in Japanese. Make sure you take whatever photos you want before moving forward. You are not allowed to move backwards. The rather officious guy at the back will hold his arms out and wave them like mad if you try to go back even ten feet.
Written November 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thesouplady-two
London, UK269 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Getting to see these lovely villas - available only by permission of the Imperial Household Agency - is actually fairly easy to do. Despite online information to the contrary, it is actually easy to get tickets in Kyoto. Just visit the Imperial Household agency office right on the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and they will do their leave best to fit you in. We had absolutely no issues at all. And not only are the tickets free, the audio guide is free as well. And of course the gardens and villas are glorious. 300 plus years of careful gardening does make a difference. And the restriction on tickets means that you are not fighting crowds - you can easily enjoy the views, the vistas, and the glorious villas and tea rooms at a snails pace. So worth it!
Written May 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Azzakwan
Klang, Malaysia43 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
getting there by bus is no problem, take the city bus one day pass, it goes everywhere except to shugakuin you need to pay extra 160 yen.
from kyoto station, go to platform A1 take bus no 5, then drop at Shugakuin Michi, not Shugakuin Rikyumichi.
then start walking about 500m, but first mark and save "Kogu Police Shugakuin Police Station" on your google maps, that's where you're heading.
so, there's no need to print the "notice of permit" (remember to book online), just save a copy on your tablet or smartphone and show it to them.
the place is beautiful, so much walking.
you can see the everything on top of the villa.
there's no fancy big building, just fancy garden.
from kyoto station, go to platform A1 take bus no 5, then drop at Shugakuin Michi, not Shugakuin Rikyumichi.
then start walking about 500m, but first mark and save "Kogu Police Shugakuin Police Station" on your google maps, that's where you're heading.
so, there's no need to print the "notice of permit" (remember to book online), just save a copy on your tablet or smartphone and show it to them.
the place is beautiful, so much walking.
you can see the everything on top of the villa.
there's no fancy big building, just fancy garden.
Written July 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Myriam. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Does one need to book in advance? How much is entrance ticket?
Written April 8, 2019
11月に阪急嵐山駅から 修学院離宮まで、タクシーで行きたいと思ってます。
時間と費用はどれくらいかかるか教えて下さい。
Written August 28, 2018
グーグルマップで検索してみましたら
時間=44分、料金=4,400円〜5,800円と、出ました。
Written August 29, 2018
Can you wander freely in the gardens or is it guided tours only?
Written July 29, 2018
You have to go with Imperial Household Agency guide babysitters. They are not as strict as those at Katsura Rikyu but still fussy....
Written July 31, 2018
Is it true that only adults may enter
Written May 21, 2015
How do I get permission to visit the Shugakuin Imperial Villa?
Written May 19, 2015
Please visit Japanese Imperial Household Agency Web site and it has instructions how to get the permission to visit the villa.
Written September 20, 2015
修学院離宮のツアーに参加後、この近隣でおすすめの観光スポットはどこですか?10時半に修学院離宮の見学が終わってから夕食時までの時間で行ける寺院や名所を教えてください。
Written March 14, 2015
ありふれた観光コースなら曼殊院、赤山禅院、詩仙堂等々、徒歩20分以内の場所に多数ありますが、紅葉の季節以外はあまり・・・それら以外にも途中に「鷺の森神社」があり、ここは観光客が「荒らしてない」のでお勧めです。詩仙堂はそれなりにいいですが、詩仙堂の入口と道路を挟んだ向い側、少し上に「野仏庵」があります。事前に電話で開庵されていることを確認の上、ここへ行かれるのもいいと思われます。有料ですが座敷で抹茶の持て成しもあります。野仏庵からは徒歩だとかなりかかりますが(20分~25分)、私が歩いて行ったのは「赤の宮神社」です。ここも観光神社ではないので独特の趣きがあります。観光ガイドブックの先がお好みなのか、それ以外の「かくれた名所・名跡」がお好みなのか、私が紹介したのはガイドブック片手に観光客が行く先ではありません。本当の良さを味わうためのコースですので・・・念のため。
Written March 14, 2015
京都駅から修学院離宮まで、公共機関を利用した場合、どうのように行けば一番いいですか?タクシーだとどのくらいの金額ですか?
Written March 6, 2015

BD1ライダー
1 contribution
京都市内の公共交通機関に詳しくないなら、京都駅から地下鉄(烏丸線)に乗車、国際会館で下車してください。乗車時間は20分です。国際会館駅の改札を出た所の4-1出口がバスターミナルに通じてます。エレベータもあります。バスターミナルで、京都市営バス5系統(京都駅)<10分間隔であります>に乗車、5番目の修学院離宮道(宝ヶ池の次)で下車です(10分で着くでしょう>。次のバス停の修学院道で下りないように。下りてからバスが行く方向に少し行くと川があります。川に沿って左に折れてその道を行くと(途中で川は右に分かれます)離宮の入口に着きます。歩いて10分もかかりません。地下鉄とバスの乗継は割引があり、バスが60円安くなります。詳しくは京都市交通局のHPを見てください。
Written March 7, 2015
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