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Katsura Imperial Villa

Trip Type
Flight 1
Flight 2
Flight 3
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Flight 5

Hotel Il Monte
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$737 per person
Flight + Hotel

Hotel Il Monte
ArcadiaEF
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$491 per person
Flight + Hotel

ArcadiaEF
InterContinental Osaka
5.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,248 per person
Flight + Hotel

InterContinental Osaka
Imperial Hotel Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$840 per person
Flight + Hotel

Imperial Hotel Osaka
HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima
3.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$622 per person
Flight + Hotel

HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
4.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$822 per person
Flight + Hotel

ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
3.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$565 per person
Flight + Hotel

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
ibis Osaka Umeda
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$618 per person
Flight + Hotel

ibis Osaka Umeda
Bar Hostel Shikanzima
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$698 per person
Flight + Hotel

Bar Hostel Shikanzima
Hotel Hankyu International
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$997 per person
Flight + Hotel

Hotel Hankyu International
The Westin Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$940 per person
Flight + Hotel

The Westin Osaka
ibis Styles Osaka Namba
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$571 per person
Flight + Hotel

ibis Styles Osaka Namba

Hotel Il Monte
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$737 per person
Flight + Hotel

Hotel Il Monte
ArcadiaEF
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$491 per person
Flight + Hotel

ArcadiaEF
InterContinental Osaka
5.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,248 per person
Flight + Hotel

InterContinental Osaka
Imperial Hotel Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$840 per person
Flight + Hotel

Imperial Hotel Osaka
HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima
3.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$622 per person
Flight + Hotel

HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
4.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$822 per person
Flight + Hotel

ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
3.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$565 per person
Flight + Hotel

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
ibis Osaka Umeda
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$618 per person
Flight + Hotel

ibis Osaka Umeda
Bar Hostel Shikanzima
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$698 per person
Flight + Hotel

Bar Hostel Shikanzima
Hotel Hankyu International
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$997 per person
Flight + Hotel

Hotel Hankyu International
The Westin Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$940 per person
Flight + Hotel

The Westin Osaka
ibis Styles Osaka Namba
3.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 12 Dec. - Mon., 16 Dec.

Hong Kong Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$571 per person
Flight + Hotel

ibis Styles Osaka Namba

Imperial Hotel Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$2,178 per person
Flight + Hotel

Imperial Hotel Osaka
Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
3.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,507 per person
Flight + Hotel

Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Shin-Osaka
HOTEL MYSTAYS Shinsaibashi East
3.0 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,439 per person
Flight + Hotel

HOTEL MYSTAYS Shinsaibashi East
Shinsaibashi House
3.0 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,333 per person
Flight + Hotel

Shinsaibashi House
Shin-Osaka Esaka Tokyu REI HOTEL
3.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,312 per person
Flight + Hotel

Shin-Osaka Esaka Tokyu REI HOTEL
Shinsaibashi Comfy Apartment
2.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,291 per person
Flight + Hotel

Shinsaibashi Comfy Apartment
HOTEL THE FLAG Shinsaibashi
3.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,741 per person
Flight + Hotel

HOTEL THE FLAG Shinsaibashi
Bespoke Hotel Shinsaibashi
3.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,526 per person
Flight + Hotel

Bespoke Hotel Shinsaibashi
Holiday Inn Osaka Namba
4.0 out of 5.0

Thu., 28 Nov. - Wed., 4 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,469 per person
Flight + Hotel

Holiday Inn Osaka Namba
Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
3.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,621 per person
Flight + Hotel

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
Swissotel Nankai Osaka
5.0 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$2,432 per person
Flight + Hotel

Swissotel Nankai Osaka
RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka
4.5 out of 5.0

Fri., 29 Nov. - Fri., 6 Dec.

Kingsford Smith Intl. - Kansai Intl.

AU$1,676 per person
Flight + Hotel

RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka

Katsura Imperial Villa

Modelled on a setting in a novel, this site has one of Kyōto’s greatest traditional gardens and architectural treasures.

The Katsura Imperial Villa on the Katsura River was built by Prince Toshihito in the 17th century. It was designed to look like a location described in the famous 11th-century novel The Tale of Genji.

In his design, Prince Toshihito was interested less in opulence and more in recreating the setting of his favourite novel. He poured all his resources into creating the gardens, teahouses and villa buildings that make up the palace. After his death, his son continued the project, increasing the scale of the garden and the number of teahouses.

During the 20th century, the villa featured in a book by German architect Bruno Taut, and gained great popularity among modernist architects, such as Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius.

Though you are not allowed to enter the buildings, you can get a good view from the outside of the mostly unadorned and geometric interior surfaces which the modernists so admired.  

On arrival, you watch a film with information on the villa, and some rules to follow during your visit. The rules include where photography is allowed. Guided tours are in Japanese, so it’s best to get an English audio guide for your tour of the grounds.

There are four teahouses, built of rustic materials. Each is designed for a different outlook. The Moon-Wave Pavilion is designed to give the best view of the harvest moon reflected in the pond, while the Flower Appreciation Pavilion is surrounded by cherry trees, and has the best view over the villa.

In the gardens, you’ll see some very old gardening practices. Handmade bamboo fences and gates separate spaces in the gardens. In the cooler months, sago palms are wrapped in straw bedding to ensure their survival during winter.

Although entry to the Katsura Imperial Villa is free, permits must be prearranged a few days ahead at the Royal Household Information Office in downtown Kyōto. You must present your passport when applying for the permit. The villa is usually open during week days only. It’s accessible by bus from Kyōto Station, the city’s main transportation hub.

Guide to Exploring around Katsura Imperial Villa

Kiyomizu Temple

Constructed entirely without nails and built on high poles, this temple is part of a World Heritage Site and offers visitors both beauty and history.

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Nijo Castle

Visit the world of a wealthy and powerful shogun in this opulent 17th-century castle complex.

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Fushimi Inari Shrine

This shrine at the base of Inari Mountain is dedicated to the goddess of rice and prosperity. See its thousands of red gates around a network of beautiful trails.

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Philosopher's Walk

This is a great walk to orient yourself around Kyōto. Stroll along a cherry tree-lined canal and visit shrines, temples, gardens and boutiques.

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Eikando Temple


Explore this hillside temple which features a statue with an unusual history, connected wooden walkways, a bathhouse and a steam house.  

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Arashiyama Monkey Park

Watch as park staff feed about 130 wild snow monkeys on Arashiyama Mountain, or climb inside a cage and feed them yourself.

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Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple)

Built in the 14th century for a shogun, then rebuilt twice, this temple is now a Buddhist site and its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.

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Kyoto Tower

In a city known for its temples and other ancient relics, this observation point catches the eye as an example of 20th-century innovation.
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Kyoto International Manga Museum

This institution is the home of manga in Kyoto. It holds exhibitions, workshops and events devoted to the promotion of Japanese literary art.
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Heian Shrine

An important shrine for patriotic locals and curious tourists alike, this site has charming buildings and natural gardens that celebrate Kyoto’s fusion of past and present.
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Shimogamo Shrine

This shrine was dedicated to spirits in the 6th century. Now, it survives as the oldest of its kind in Kyoto, pre-dating the city itself.
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Kyoto National Museum

As one of the principal museums of Japan, this site displays fascinating artifacts across impressive structures to tell the story of Kyoto’s place in the country.
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Yasaka Shrine

Observe traditional Shinto architecture, pretty lanterns and sacred rituals at this historic shrine, home of the annual Gion Festival and Kyoto’s favorite cherry blossom park.

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Ryoanji Temple

Features such as one of the most famous rock gardens in the country and a placid pond with charming islands distinguish this temple from others in the city.
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Tofukuji Temple

More than any other site, this shrine is celebrated for the unrivaled autumnal colors of the trees surrounding the spiritual Zen haven.
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Sanjusangendo Temple

This temple is the famous site where thousands of hand-carved deities from the 13th century flank the longest wooden building in Japan.
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Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art

As a place that celebrates 20th-century contemporary art, this museum has innovative themes that are very different from traditional Kyoto culture.
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Nanzenji Temple

Art, elaborate gardens and a giant gate await at this temple that stands tall as one of the most important of its kind in the country.
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Honen-in Temple

This is a shrine devoted to a peaceful and learned environment with an impressive gate, natural greenery and a serene atmosphere.
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To-ji Temple

The To-ji Temple is one of the preeminent traditional sites in Kyoto, with exquisite structures, a flea market and the tallest pagoda in the country.
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Kenninji Temple

Visit this Zen Buddhism temple for a slice of history, art and tranquility. It is said that the temple is the oldest of its kind in Kyoto.
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Ninnaji Temple

With picturesque blossom gardens and a golden hall considered a national treasure, this temple is a historic monument devoted to bliss and tranquility.
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Myoho-in Temple

This temple is a hidden gem with majestic halls that open to the public on select occasions.
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Kodaiji Temple

A widow built this temple in 1606 to pay homage to her late warrior husband. Today, it survives as an eye-catching site of tranquility with postcard-pretty gardens.
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Shoren-in-Temple

This temple borrows its graceful quality from the imperial family. It is home to traditional art, spiritual statues and a bamboo orchard.
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Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

This shrine was created in 947 to mollify a furious spirit. Now, students and tourists gather to soak in the ambience of its traditional architecture and gardens.
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Entokuin Temple

Visitors come to this ancient site for its pleasant temple but stay to relish the nature and tranquility of its serene Zen garden.
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Shokoku-ji Temple

A major center of Zen Buddhism, this stylish, ancient relic is ranked as one of the great temples of Japan.
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Lodging Near Katsura Imperial Villa

See all 2,420 properties near Katsura Imperial Villa

Price for 1 night 2 adults*

RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto

RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto

    4.0 out of 5.0
     
     

    Located in Central Kyoto, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Nishihonganji Temple, Kyoto Tower and Kyoto Aquarium. Higashi Honganji Temple and Toji Temple ...

    RIHGA Royal Hotel KyotoAU$169

    Per night/room

    27 Oct. - 28 Oct.

    Guest house KOTONE KYOTO

    Guest house KOTONE KYOTO

    10-1 Nishikyogoku Shibanoshitacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
      2.5 out of 5.0
       
       

      Situated near the boardwalk, this guesthouse is within 1 mi (2 km) of Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium and Katsura Imperial Villa. Nijō Castle and Ryōan-ji are ...

      Guest house KOTONE KYOTOAU$142

      Per night/room

      29 Oct. - 30 Oct.

      Kamikatsura House

      Kamikatsura House

        2.0 out of 5.0
         
         

        Located in Nishikyo, this guesthouse is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Katsura Imperial Villa, and within 3 mi (5 km) of Suzumushi-dera Temple and Koryuji Temple. Arashiyama ...

        Kamikatsura HouseAU$79

        Per night/room

        27 Oct. - 28 Oct.

        Oyama Guest House Kyoto

        Oyama Guest House Kyoto

          2.0 out of 5.0
           
           
          1.0 out of 5 (1 reviews)

          Located in Nishikyo, this guesthouse is within 1 mile (2 km) of Suzumushi-dera Temple, Saihoji Temple and Katsura Imperial Villa. Toei Kyoto Studio Park and ...

          Oyama Guest House KyotoAU$92

          Per night/room

          27 Oct. - 28 Oct.

          JQ Villa Kyoto Nishikyougoku

          JQ Villa Kyoto Nishikyougoku

            3.0 out of 5.0
             
             

            Situated in Kyoto, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium and Katsura Imperial Villa. Toji Temple and Higashi Honganji Temple ...

            JQ Villa Kyoto NishikyougokuAU$543

            Per night/room

            5 Nov. - 6 Nov.

            JQ Villa Kyoto Morimachi

            JQ Villa Kyoto Morimachi

              2.5 out of 5.0
               
               

              Situated in Kyoto, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium and Katsura Imperial Villa. Toji Temple and Higashi Honganji Temple ...

              JQ Villa Kyoto MorimachiAU$390

              Per night/room

              29 Oct. - 30 Oct.

              Iwashige Building

              Iwashige Building

                2.5 out of 5.0
                 
                 

                Situated in Kyoto, this holiday home is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium and within 3 miles (5 km) of Katsura Imperial Villa and Toji Temple. ...

                Estate Tokyu Nishikyogoku

                Estate Tokyu Nishikyogoku

                  3.0 out of 5.0
                   
                   

                  Situated on the Strip, this apartment building is within 2 mi (3 km) of Aeon Mall Kyoto, Katsura Imperial Villa and Toei Kyoto Studio Park. Koryuji Temple and ...

                  Estate Tokyu NishikyogokuAU$357

                  Per night/room

                  27 Oct. - 28 Oct.

                  See all 2,420 properties near Katsura Imperial Villa
                  *Price based on the lowest price found within past 24 hours and based upon one night stay for two adults over the next thirty days. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.