What is Japanese beauty? The Katsura Rikyu shows us its essence. The Japanese aesthetic imbues every turn in the grounds. The buildings reveal each season. The garden lays out the trees, rocks, and water in subtle designs. Even the main terrace was designed to give a direct view of the full moon during harvest season. This palace was built in Kyoto in the 17th century as a villa for an aristocratic family. Losing their political power to the samurai, the aristocrats built their palaces with great attention to craftsmanship to show in the realm of culture, their glory. High-definition cameras gain entrance for the first time to the furthest recesses of the buildings and grounds. On related subject(s):
The Shugakuin Imperial Villa was built over more than three years in the mid-17th century by the Emperor Gomizunoo. Deftly making use of the slopes of Mt. Hieizan, the villa features upper, middle, and lower tea houses, and a large pond on top of the mountain. The villa and its gardens have a unique scale that transcends the usual concept of the Japanese garden, with terraced rice fields that are still being cultivated and a panoramic view of Kyoto from the top. The Shugakuin Imperial Villa is said to "capture alive" the "original" Japanese scenery, including scenes of farming. Moreover, the villa was not only for court nobles but also an area where townspeople could picnic. Capturing the special moments of each season, the program provides a dynamic picture of this imperial villa.
A group of villas next to Nanzen-ji Temple is rarely listed in Kyoto guidebooks. These villas were built by prominent statesmen who rose to power between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These influential figures poured their wealth and aesthetic sense into the creation of 12 architectural jewels. The villas' large gardens draw water from the ample supply provided by the aqueduct from Lake Biwa. So as not to obstruct the splendid view, the rooms were built with eaves that extended lengthwise for over ten meters without any intervening pillars. Built with the finest timber and designed in the refined sukiya architectural style, the villas exemplify the sense of Japanese beauty, which was rapidly disappearing. For the first time, cameras are allowed inside the villas, which have been closed to the public up to now, to reveal "Kyoto's last hidden sanctuary."