Last month, as Kyoto's fall foliage season was just ramping up, I made my second (or third?) visit to one of the Japanese Emperor's estates in Kyoto, the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮).

The villa can be visited only by reservation, and the online reservation system is generally completely booked for the entire three months ahead that it has available. However, it's substantially easier for foreigners (non-Japanese citizens) to make a reservation in person at the Imperial Household Agency office in Kyoto; Kobe cycling friend Adrian took advantage of that, and kindly included me in his reservation.

I've posted about this place before, in “My First Visit To Kyoto’s Shugakuin Imperial Villa”, and its followups part one and part two (and a bonus boat).

Visits are via tours that are tightly controlled, chaperoned by (plain-clothed) Imperial police officers.

The tour was conducted by a man who had just returned to this property after many decades away; he had given tours ~30 years ago when he was younger, but had been transferred to Tokyo in between. He seemed to be quite knowledgeable and very witty, as he often held the group in rapt attention, or had them laughing.

The tour visits many small buildings on the property, and he described their history and special features. I didn't pay too much attention, as I was interested mostly in just taking pretty or interesting photos.

One never wants raw wood touching the ground, as that invites pests and rot. The design of the stone base allows for the wooden pillar to be replaced if needed, but holds it tight in all dimensions. I just love this.

This tea house is seen again as a wigglegram in the next post.