The Katsura Imperial Villa was the best example of Shoin-zukuri architecture in the style of sukiya (building in the style of a tea-ceremony house), was the fusion of sukiya style and Shoin-zukuri building and a pioneer in the transition from the tea ceremony in Shoin to the tea ceremony in the room of suikiya style.
桂離宮は数寄屋風書院造りの頂点に立つ建築でもあり、数寄屋造りと書院造りとの接点であり、書院の茶から数寄屋としての茶室への先駆であつた。