Katsura Imperial Villa is truly beautiful, beyond my imagination

It's indescribable! I think being able to successfully make a reservation and visit Saiho-ji Temple and Katsura Imperial Villa is the most worthwhile thing of my trip to Kyoto. I really, really, really love looking at architecture, and even more so at garden landscapes. Sometimes I really wonder if there is still a memory in my body of being a leisurely prince who loved garden landscapes in some past life. Katsura Imperial Villa, built in 1615, has never suffered a fire and has basically maintained its original appearance. Even the paintings on the sliding doors inside the buildings are still faintly recognizable. The entire garden has four tea houses and a study. The garden was built for moon viewing, so at key points along the paths, you can always see many stone lanterns to illuminate the steps of pedestrians. The overall design consists of a strolling garden and pure Japanese-style buildings in the sukiya-zukuri style. Every step offers a new view, with ingenious designs everywhere. The cultural elegance and the natural seasons blend perfectly, dancing gracefully and enchanting the viewer. The entire visit was so perfect—the weather was perfect, the scenery was breathtaking, and the guide provided very detailed explanations. Traveling across the ocean to visit the royal garden of the Hachijo-no-miya family was truly worth it. Four hundred years later, an ordinary person like me can still catch a glimpse of royal elegance. As a modern person, I am really touched!