Kyoto · Nishikyo · Japan

Katsura Rikyū

Katsura Imperial Villa

Park & GardenHistoric photo spotgoogle verified

easy

10/10

best: morning

contemplative

A local would say...

Bruno Taut called it 'the most refined example of Japanese architecture' — and architects have been trying to live up to it ever since.

Widely considered the pinnacle of Japanese traditional architecture and garden design, this imperial villa is an island of staggering beauty set amid an otherwise ordinary neighborhood. Every detail — from the asymmetrical stepping stones to the precisely calibrated views from each tearoom — was designed to create a walking meditation on the relationship between architecture and nature. The gardens unfold as a series of carefully composed scenes that change with every step. You'll need to arrange a tour in advance, but this is the single most sophisticated expression of Japanese aesthetics you'll find anywhere.