Prince Toshihito
Imperial prince / first head of Hachijō-no-miya / founder of Katsura villa
Katsura building campaign began around 1615
Who they were
Prince Toshihito, the first head of the Hachijō-no-miya imperial family, founded Katsura as a detached residence west of the Katsura River in Kyoto. His role belongs to the villa’s initial phase, rather than to every part of the surviving ensemble.
The Imperial Household Agency connects the choice of Katsura with his knowledge of classical literature and the landscape described in The Tale of Genji. The villa brought literary associations into the setting of an aristocratic retreat.
He began the Koshoin building. After his death, his son Toshitada enlarged the residence and developed its grounds. The agency places the overall construction process approximately between 1615 and 1662, while acknowledging that the exact starting date is unknown.
Related residences
Sources
- Imperial Household Agency — Katsura and its literary setting
- Imperial Household Agency — construction phases at Katsura
Short biography checked 10 October 2026. Lifespan and documented activity dates are labelled separately.