Good place to take a rest for a while. Small but good atmosphere.

Free! And in Kyoto where many places charge admission to view places like this it’s a great place to visit. Not many tourists stop by here as they continue on into the imperial palace grounds (basically a big park and garden) and don’t realize they can stroll through a old imperial villa with lots of history and a few exhibits plus a virtual theater. The gardens inside the villa are average when compared to the imperial garden or the park out front but it is your own private view without the people in the background that is worth it.

Supposedly the one area in the entire parks that retains it's natural shape. I love the artificial lake design near the entrance

A good start for your visit to the Imperial Palace. It is free to enter and has a small exhibition also. You could also relax a bit with a nice Japanese garden view.

Discovering the seemingly inconspicuous structure - the Remains of the Kan-in-no-miya Residence - was a delightful surprise during my exploration of Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens. Despite its unassuming appearance, this hidden gem provides a detailed insight into the history of Kyoto's imperial grounds. What's even more remarkable is the scarce number of visitors, creating a serene atmosphere. The best part? It's completely free to explore, welcoming everyone to experience its charm.

Must see in Kyoto. Former emperor residence

Beautiful place to start your visit in the garden. There is a lot of history and information regarding this place. It was very empty during my visit. The air conditioning and interesting information is what kept us here for a while. Make sure to put on the slippers before entering the indoor section. Coming here gave us insight of the National Garden. If you are nearby, I recommend checking this place out.

free entry

So much more here than your, great visit.

Beautiful place.

Worth the walk