Imperial Villas

[rkold]

This post will be picture intensive. In happy news, I discovered that the veggie place that replaced CafePeace looks awesome and I can't wait to try it! *__*

On Thursday, I caught an early train so that I could make it to Katsura Imperial Villa for my appointment. It turned out to be surprisingly easy to get to thank to the Hankyu line. The villa was just amazing. It involved following narrow stone paths and crossing delicate bridges through a garden. <3 I might have to try to go back. I helped some other foreigners get to the train station and then went to downtown Kyoto to try to track down this veggie restaurant. It turns out it is right next the the First Kitchen where I went with muscatlove and yanchamonkey when we were watching the marching bands. I sort of wish I'd known about it then cause I was sort of hungry and there was nothing I could really get to eat at First Kitchen. The cafe had a yummy tofu sandwich and it was even not that expensive! Plus the waitress asked me repeatedly what I would and would not eat so I could get my sandwich without mayo!!! (I detest mayo, though I do eat eggs) Post lunch I headed up to Shugakuin. It was around this time I discovered 2 major problems. Problem #1, I had to be back at Kate's before 7 to eat dinner with her host family and my tour started at 4. Problem #2, my feet were hurting, a lot. I think if I could have cancelled the tour I would have but it was not an option. I made it to the villa and it was interesting and in places very pretty but not as cool as Katsura. The tour was also 1 1/2 hours making my chances of catching a train even dimmer. The pretty pond which was supposed to be one of the highlights of the villa was being dredged so they could work on one of the bridges. ~.~ Though my husband would have loved this villa since it was surrounded by actual vegetable gardens. The vegetable gardens are enclosed in electrified fences to keep out the monkey, deer and wild boar. All I can say is wow, and this is in Kyoto! (Though of course I have seen deer in NYC, but monkeys!! lol) I took a cab to the Keihan station for $12 because by this point my feet were in agony and still did not manage to make a Keihan train that would let me make my connection to JR in time to make the 18:03 from Shin Osaka. So I picked up some take out and changed for the 19:03, sad that I was missing the meal with Kate. When I got back to Kate's I discovered my toes were bleeding! Lovely! Next time I am so bringing a pair of Crocs with me just in case of emergencies. >>;



Katsura








the pebbled isthmus is supposed to represent Amonoshidate






Lux also liked Katsura lol
























Shugakuin Imperial Villa


I bet it is gorgeous in Fall


The view from the upper pavilion. The pond is normally full but it's been dredged to work on a bridge. This garden is famous for using "borrowed" scenery. i.e. the mountains in the background.


You almost can't see the modern city stretching in the valley


I think that's the "Chitose" bridge




Wow, Kate is right those pants do look bad! ^_^;




This is the only original building still in the garden, built for the retired Emperor in the 1600's


The a crane and the I think Chitose bridge!

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, so gorgeous!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to try to go back and I am trying to convince my mother in law to do a trip to Japan with me in November and I think she would love both villas! (and hopefully by then Shugakuin is fixed)

[akari-sama.livejournal.com]

I'm finally caught up! >.</

I love looking at your trip pics, everything's so gorgeous. But reading your posts make my feet hurt! XD I don't think I could take that much walking.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I think on days I didn't walk a lot, like Wednesday when I mostly shopped I averaged only about 2 miles of walking and on days like Tuesday I prob did 5 or 6, maybe more. lol It helps that I think it was 1/2 mile to the train station each morning just so I could get somewhere. Luckily, despite my plumpness I am actually in decent shape when it comes to walking around. Japan is definitely very walking intensive, the few times I took a cab it was very expensive. $12 in Kyoto and $30 to go like under 10 kilometers (like 6 miles) so I could catch my airport bus.

[spiderlace.livejournal.com]

I love how peaceful and quiet everything looks, even though it seems lonely!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

The Katsura tour group was pretty small, maybe 12 people but the one for Shugakuin was at least 20+ I just managed to mostly not take pictures with people in them and managed to not share the few where you can see people XD;; And again it is February on a week day, so much people have to work.

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Ooh, more gorgeous pictures! But your poor feet! D: Maybe artisctic photography knows no pain, just like beauty. :x

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I think it's my loafers do not go well with changes in altitude from flying XD;; I am not sure what I am going to do in April. Gah, I need to renew my passport!!!

I'm so glad you are enjoying the pictures! :D

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Ahh, yeah, I've heard feet can do funny things when subjected to long airplane flights!

Haha, I have faith that you will renew your passport in time. ;D

I am, they're gorgeous~ Very serene!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Well, yes this time if I have to I will pay a service. I want to get my picture taken for free from AAA but I need the car to do that and I don't want to leave int he morning until my EMS package arrives as Lulu wants his new eyes. lol

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Haha. Ahh, the joys of waiting for packages. XD; But I totally understand.

[sporkkunoichi.livejournal.com]

what gorgeous scenery!
When I go back to Japan I'll bug you for more information of where this is located and see it for myself. =*_*=

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Both Katsura and Shugakuin are in Kyoto and both you can get relatively close to via public transportation. It's like a 7-10 min walk from the station to Katsura and 10-15 mins mostly uphill to Shugakuin. The biggest problem is you need to go to the Imperial Household Agency and make a reservation at least 24 hours ahead of time.

[sporkkunoichi.livejournal.com]

ooh yaye! We were planning to do an overnight stay in Kyoto (with the rest of our trip being in Tokyo). so that'll work out well. XD

And making a reservation isn't a problem with me at all. Thanks so much for that info!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

If you're doing: somewhere else in Japan to Kyoto, over night in Kyoto, day in Kyoto and then leave for somewhere else for the night, it's probably do-able. I think if you're doing: arrive in Japan from KIX, overnight in Kyoto, sightsee in Kyoto and then leave it is rather impossible. The Agency is a bit of a pain to get to and they're only open limited hours. If you're leaving from Tokyo you need to take a train before 11:00 am or you have no chance of making it. If your in Kyoto there is an earlier tour you can do for one of the villas, but they are rather far apart and the tours are long. I honestly don't think you could do Sato and 2 villa tours. (Though you could easily do Katsura and a villa tour as if you pay, you can take the Hankyu line directly to Arashiyama.

When are you going to Japan again?

[sporkkunoichi.livejournal.com]

We are *trying* for winter (for Comiket) but if we can't make it in Winter we'll go the following spring. And We'll be mostly in Tokyo (probably Akiba area), with an overnight in Kyoto: It's still up in the air. But most likely we would be in Tokyo for a couple days THEN do the overnight before going back to Tokyo. And... we're most likely pick one or the other to go to, since we're both adamant about going back to the Inari Shrine also.

But all that information is fabulous.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Having gone for Winter Comiket myself, you do know Tokyo and Kyoto are really cold, right? Fushimi Inari is indeed awesome, but I'm not sure I would want to spend a lot of time walking around there in the cold. The villas are both closed extended periods of time around Comiket cause it is also right around New Years as well. I don't know the specific dates because I don't plan to ever go back to Japan for New Years again. ^^; It's so hard to find places just to eat on the 1st (in Tokyo) and so many places are closed on the 2+3 as well. If you're hoping to hit specific shops you might want to make sure they are open. I know Mandarake closes from the 1-4 and I know even Animate is closed the 1+2 usually.

Other than some of the shrines and there surrounding environs, Tokyo is really dead around New Years. Though of course you do get the New Years sales and grab bags once things open again.

[sporkkunoichi.livejournal.com]

i personally havent been in winter (though I am aware of the cold), but the friend I am going with has been there for winter comiket several times.

Going to the Shrines for the new years would be a neat experience though

[cc-lemon.livejournal.com]

These pictures are spectacular. Just absolutely gorgeous. You make me want to go!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

If you come to Kyoto, we can go :D I knew about them when we were there but the whole reservation thing made me think it was not possible. It is a bit of a pain, but I've now learned the joys of staying in Osaka lol (that and I found all these new veggie restaurants! Some of them even have Japanese inspired veggie dishes.)

[jougetsu.livejournal.com]

Your pictures came out so beautiful and professional looking. They easily beat many of the ones found in the guide books.