What other travelers are saying about Katsura Imperial Villa
The garden is absolutely stunning, perhaps the most beautiful I have seen in Japan. The guided tour, which we applied for a few months in advance, was so interesting and informative - our guide was very knowledgeable.
Reservations are required as is the case for other properties managed by the Imperial Household Agency. It is a guided tour in Japanese but headsets for English commentary are available. It is beautiful and its history is interesting, I would like to see it again in autumn. I would also recommend Shugakuin Imperial Villa. We visited both in one day.
This is certainly one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens I have ever seen (and I have visited many!). However, unlike most, because the Imperial family occasionally visits, reservations and guided tours are mandatory. It is impeccably kept, and well worth a visit. You just need to plan ahead. Reservations can be made online.
Hard to get to. Make sure you have tickets first, they are strict here. Amazing garden and very beautiful views. 1000yen per person, English guide available. Take pictures quickly as the group moves at a steady pace. 1 hr tour overall, with good explanations. Reflections in the water were incredible.
10/10 for the gardens which are simply stunning. But the rest of the experience was 4/10. The beaurocracy to enter a tourist attraction was ridiculous, and the English tour was poor. Also, despite doing an online reservation, nowhere did they earn you that the villa is undergoing works and is covered in scaffolding.
