自転車で修学院へThe largest of Kyoto's imperial villas, Shugakuin, is endowed with spacious grounds at the foot of Mt. Hiei.
Shugakuin was designed by the former Emperor Go-Mizunoo, who was building a retirement villa for himself.
Go-Mizunoo ascended to the throne in 1611 while just fifteen years old. The power of the office of the emperor at the time was in decline as shoguns were consolidating their influence on a unified Japan.
As a result, the Emperor - wealthy, cosseted, time on his hands, and still respected - could only dabble in hobbies or in cultural affairs.
Around 1640, the shogun decided to pay for construction of an imperial villa for Go-Mizunoo.
The location chosen was a former nunnery, and was cleared for construction.
The lower villa (there are three villas within Shugakuin) was completed by 1659. The middle villa was finished in the 1680s, after Go-Mizunoo's death.
Today the area is much as it was, though of course a neighborhood has grown up around its western edge.
These photos are of paintings on doors within the villa.
Many temples - Enkoji, Manpukuji, Shisendo - and and almost rural feel await. It is a great ride.
Details
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
Yabusoe, Shugakuin, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
075 211 1215
Entrance Fee: Free but a reservation is required. Please go to the Imperial Palace
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