Kyoto Imperial Palace

The estate dates from the early Edo period when the residence of high court nobles were grouped close together with the palace and the area walled.

When the capital was moved to Tokyo, the residences of the court nobles were demolished and most of Kyōto Gyoen is now a park open to the public.

The palace, like many of the oldest and most important buildings in Japan, was destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times over the course of its history.

The neighboring building to the north is the sentō (仙洞), or residence of the retired Emperor, and beyond that, across Imadegawa Street, sits Doshisha University.

[4] The main buildings are, among other halls, the Shishinden (紫宸殿, Hall for State Ceremonies), Seiryōden (清涼殿, Emperor's Habitual Residence), Kogosho (小御所, Court Room), Ogakumonjo (御学問所, Imperial Study or Library[5]), and a number of residences for the Empress, high-ranking aristocrats and government officials.

Dignitaries with special permission for official visits used to enter the palace through the Okurumayose (御車寄) entrance.

The Shinmikurumayose (新御車寄) structure was built as a new carriage entrance on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho in 1915.

For state ceremonies, the dignitaries would enter through the Kenreimon (建礼門), which has a cypress-wood roof, and is supported by four unpainted wooden pillars.

This gate would have been used on the rare occasions of the Emperor welcoming a foreign diplomat or dignitary, as well as for many other important state ceremonies.

The Shunkōden (春興殿) was constructed to house the sacred mirror on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho in 1915.

The hall is 33 by 23 metres (108 by 75 ft) in size, and features a traditional architectural style, with a gabled and hipped roof.

Within this is a wide open space, crossed by boarded-over sections, leading to the central throne room.

The present throne was modeled on the original design, constructed in 1913, two years before the enthronement of Emperor Taishō.

The Kogosho (小御所) is a place where the Emperor received bannermen under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogun (buke).

The Kogosho Conference was held here on the night of December 9, 1867, the declaration of the restoration of imperial rule (osei fukko).

The study hall Ogakumonjo (御学問所) was for reading rites, a monthly poetry recital and also a place the Emperor received nobles.