URL:   http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/guide/katsura.html  Name: Katsura Rikyû  Katsura Photo: Lynn Perry   Alternate Name: Katura, Katsura Rikyu, Katsura Detached Palace, Katsura Imperial Villa  Address: Ukyo-ku, Katsura, Shimizu-cho  Mailing Address:   City: Kyoto-shi  State: Kyoto-hu  Postal Code:   Country: JAPAN  Latitude/Longitude: lat=35.05; long=135.667 Find Gardens Nearby Phone:   Fax:   E-Mail:   Contact:   Designer(s): Prince Toshihito and son, Toshitada  Contruction Date: 1620-c.1658  Public/Private: PUBLIC  Hours: Tours at 10am and 2pm on every day except Saturday afternoon, Sundays, national holidays and New Years (Dec 25-Jan 5)  Admission:   Added to JGarden: 1/1/1996  Last Updated: 4/3/2005  Sources:   JGarden Description: All visitor's must obtain permission in advance from the Kyoto office of the Imperial Household Agency (located on the grounds of the Gosho). The Katsura Imperial Villa is considered the epitome of the stroll garden. Originally known as Katsura Sanso, this was the estate of Prince Toshihito(1579-1629), brother of Emperor Goyozei (1571-1617) and member of the Hachijonomiya family. His son, Toshitada added the villa buildings and made some changes to the garden. The final piece, Miyukiden was added 1658 when Emperor Gomizuno (1596-1680) visited. It is one of three Imperial Villas (the others being Sento Gosho and Shugakuin). Katsura used to be attributed to Kobori Enshu, but while his influence is clear, he probably did not direct the design or construction. The two princes were, however, assisted by two of Enshu's brothers. Now considered the prototypical stroll garden, it was actually conceived as a very large roji based on the tea garden style of the time and shows the characteristic flagstone and stepping stone paths, stone lantern and tsukubai stone wash basin. Other Resources There is an excellent series of articles by JGC Corporation on the design engineering of Katsura that include analyses of techniques, overall design, path engineering and the systems that allow Katsura to operate:

This perfectly still Spring day bathed in the soft light From the spread-out sky, Why do the cherry blossoms So restlessly scatter down?   Ki no Tomonori   10th century