The Katsura Imperial Villa
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- Miyukimon Gate
- Miyukimon Gate was built on the occasion of the visit of the retired Emperor Gomizuno-o in the mid-17th century. The thatched gable roof in the Kiritsuma style is enforced by bamboo rafters, and the pillars and beams are made of oak with corky barks.
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- Miyukimichi Lane
- Miyukimichi Lane is paved with small stones. As those stones look like hailstones, the lane is called “Ararekoboshi (scattered hailstones)”.
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- Sotokoshikake
- Sotokoshikake is an arbor with a thatched roof and was used as a waiting place for tea ceremony at the Shokintei tea pavilion. “Sunasettin” (Sand toilet) is situated on the corner for the purpose of ‘consideration for the guests’.
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- Shokintei
- Shokintei is the most prestigious tea pavilion in the Villa. The thatched roof is in the Irimoya (hip and gable roof) style.
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- The first room of the Shokintei
- Ichinoma, or the first room, has a blue and white checkered pattern on the sliding door and tokonoma (alcove).
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- Shokatei
- Shokatei was modeled after a rustic tea stall on a hill, and is located on the miniature hill overlooking the garden, and is called “Touge-no-chaya”, which means a stall on the hill. It has a thatched roof with gables.
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- Shoiken
- Shoiken is a large tea pavilion, was modeled after a country house with a thatched roof combined with a shingled lean-to-roof.
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- Gepparo
- Gepparo means “House of the Moon and Ripples”. As the name implies, the Gepparo, facing the pond, is the tea pavilion where people used to enjoy watching the moon and the reflection of the moon on the pond.
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- Shoin
- Shoin is the main building in the Katsura Imperial Villa. Koshoin (Old Shoin), Chushoin (Middle Shoin) and Shingoten (New Palace) were built in the Ganko-gata (“gees-in-flight” formation). The moon viewing balcony attached to the Koshoin is designed to view the moon straight ahead over the pond and the reflection on the surface of the water.
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- Hogaki Fence
- Hogaki Fence is made of big bamboo posts and bamboo twigs which are piled up between those bamboo posts.
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The Imperial Family
