Castle & Palace · Shugakuin / Sakyo

Shugakuin Imperial Villa 修学院離宮

Emperor Go-Mizunoo's 17th-century villa in the northeast hills, three gardens linked by pine-lined paths through working rice fields, toured free by reservation.

HoursGuided tours about 9:00-15:00, around 80 minutes

ClosedMondays (or next day if holiday), 28 Dec-4 Jan

PriceFree

Getting thereShugakuin Station (Eizan Railway), 20 min; Shugakuin Rikyu-michi bus stop, 15 min

Time needed1.5-2 hours

Best timeAutumn; early summer greenery

AddressShugakuin Yabuzoe, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto

Websitesankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/shug

About

Shugakuin Rikyu was created in the 1650s by the retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo as a retreat at the foot of Mt. Hiei. It consists of three separate gardens, Lower, Middle and Upper, connected by paths lined with clipped pines that run through rice paddies farmed to keep the rural scenery. The Upper Garden is the climax: from the Rinuntei pavilion on the hilltop you look down over the Yokuryuchi pond, its islands and the borrowed scenery of the northern mountains and city, one of the largest borrowed-landscape views in Japan. The free guided tour of about 80 minutes involves walking up and down slopes. Book online via the Imperial Household Agency; a limited number of same-day spots are also available.

Highlights

Rinuntei pavilion view over Yokuryuchi pond
Pine-lined paths through rice paddies
Chitose bridge and its pavilions
Kyakuden with fish-net and festival-float painted doors
Borrowed scenery of mountains and the city

Tips

Book online in advance; same-day spots are handed out at the gate.
Bring passport or photo ID for the check-in.
The tour involves uphill walking for about 3 km.
Combine with Shisen-do and Manshu-in nearby.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Plan it in Tabitomo

Save Shugakuin Imperial Villa to your trip, see reviews and photos from travelers, and get directions.

Open in the app

Shugakuin Imperial Villa 修学院離宮

About

Highlights

Tips

Nearby