Kan-in-no-miya Residence Site (閑院宮邸跡)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This exhibition facility in the southwest of Kyoto Gyoen makes use of the site of a former princely residence. The garden is now a spread of lawn and trees, but until the early Meiji period it was a town lined with the mansions of court nobles. Models, photographs and documents convey that scene, so even children can grasp why the garden is so large. Grounds are laid out around the building, and simply sitting on the veranda and looking out at them makes for a cool interval. Being indoors, it also keeps you out of the sun and saves energy for the afternoon in the water.

Tips

Check the opening hours and closed days in advance in the Ministry of the Environment's information to be sure. Parts of the exhibition rooms require you to take off your shoes, so shoes that slip on and off easily make things smoother. Many of the paths inside the garden are gravel and can be hard going for a stroller, so a baby carrier is reassuring. You can walk within the garden to reach Demizu-no-Ogawa.

Best time to visit

About 50 minutes. Spending the 11 o'clock hour indoors, when the sun is strongest, makes the afternoon easier.

Access & map

〒602-0881 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto Gyoen ３, National Parks Association Kyoto Gyoen