Kyūsui-tei

Shugakuin Imperial Villa is a hillside retreat built in 1659 by Retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo at the foot of Mount Hiei, made up of Upper, Middle and Lower villas. It is famous for borrowing the surrounding hills and rice fields into its scenery. Kyūsui-tei is a teahouse on the summit of the central island in the Upper Villa's Yokuryū Pond, reached across the Kaede Bridge.

Agency records date it to the early Edo period; it is the only building surviving from the villa's founding. Its pyramidal shingle roof is crowned with a tile base and a jewel finial. It has never been rebuilt since Go-Mizunoo's time, though it was repaired in the Bunsei era on the orders of Retired Emperor Kōkaku.

With windows open on three sides, it offers a panoramic view of the pond and surroundings. The pond's name is said to liken the island to a dragon's back, and boating parties were once held here.