 Most viewed - Kyoto Imperial Palace 京都御所 |
The Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) was the emperor's residence from the 14th century to 19th century. This is the main path to the palace where major festivals such as the Aoi Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri are held.404 views
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Map and about the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.402 views
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Model of Kyoto Imperial Palace.333 views
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Scale model of the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.320 views
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3D map of Kyoto Imperial Palace and the route we were allowed to take. For this special occasion of Emperor Akihito's 20th anniversary, we were also allowed to tour the northern palace quarters which is normally closed to the public.295 views
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Juni-hitoe kimono worn by the empress.240 views
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Wedding attire of the empress wearing juni-hitoe kimono, and the emperor wearing sokutai. 190 views
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Gishumon Gate, the entrance to Kyoto Imperial Palace when it is open to the public in spring and fall. During Nov. 1-10, 2009, anyone could freely enter. Normally, you have to apply (send in a form) to be able to take a tour of the palace. 宜秋門182 views
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Seishomon Gate was the exit. This is the gate normally used by the public. In the old days, it was the palace's "kitchen door" since it was used as a service entrance. It was also used by Imperial children. 清所門173 views
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Shishinden Hall is the most important building at Kyoto Imperial Palace. In houses the emperor's throne called Takamikura looking like an alcove. The enthronement ceremony for Emperor Taisho and Showa were held here.171 views
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Shishinden Hall, the most important building at Kyoto Imperial Palace. It faces a plaza of grooved, white gravel. 紫宸殿169 views
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First thing we saw after entering was this Okurama-yose entrance for VIPs arriving by ox-drawn carriage. Connected to the Shobudai-no-Ma room. 御車寄162 views
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We weren't allowed to enter the Shishinden, but we could see the Takamikura from outside. Notice the chair inside the canopy. This Takamikura and the Michodai for the empress were transported to Tokyo for Emperor Akihito's enthronement ceremony.156 views
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I visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Nov. 2009 when it was open to the public to mark the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. This is Kenreimon Gate, used only by the emperor and heads of state. 建礼門155 views
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Sweets sold for the 20th anniversary of the enthronement.150 views
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Roof of Gishumon Gate. If you like Japanese architecture, art (painting), Japanese history, or the Imperial family, visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace is a must. Much more traditional than the current Imperial Palace in Tokyo which actually was a castle.147 views
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Inside the Okurumayose entrance.147 views
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This broad, graveled path makes it very stately and the gate up ahead is the main gate. However, it is reserved only for VIPs, and common folk like us must use a side gate to enter the palace when it is open to the public.146 views
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Way to Gishumon Gate where we could enter the Kyoto Imperial Palace. In the old days, this gate was used by government ministers, siblings of the emperor, court nobles, and princes and princesses.141 views
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The Kyoto Imperial Palace is actually within a much larger compound called the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. The palace itself is walled within this spacious garden. This earthen wall is called tsujibei.137 views
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Shin-Mikuruma-yose was designed for cars and was used only by the emperor. It was built in 1915 upon the enthronement of Emperor Taisho. 新御車寄136 views
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Tsuru-no-Ma Crane Room of the Shodaibu-no-Ma. Painted by Kano Eikaku. 鶴の間135 views
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Shodaibu-no-Ma is a waiting room for dignitaries making official visits to the Palace. It has three anterooms and the VIP would be ushered into one of the three rooms in accordance with rank. 諸大夫の間134 views
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Tsuru-no-Ma Crane Room of the Shodaibu-no-Ma. Painted by Kano Eikaku. 鶴の間134 views
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Tora-no-Ma Tiger Room of the Shodaibu-no-Ma. Painted by Gantai (岸岱). 虎の間133 views
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Kenshumon Gate in the southeast corner of the palace. It has a karahafu-style roof. Originally used by Imperial messengers. 建春門133 views
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About the Nikai-zushi cabinet.131 views
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Almost all the current buildings in Kyoto Gosho were recomstructed in 1855. But they include Heian Period-style architecture.130 views
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128 views
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Shunkoden Hall (春興殿) was built on the occasion of Emperor Taisho's enthronement in 1914. The wooden building's roof is made of copper plates.127 views
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The Kyoto Imperial Palace is spread over 27 acres or about 110,000 square meters. It's rectangular as is the national garden that surrounds it.126 views
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Shin-Mikuruma-yose126 views
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Roof tiles of palace wall. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden is rectangular. It used to be a town of 200 homes of court nobles surrounding the Imperial Palace while the emperor lived in Kyoto. 125 views
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Room inside Shodaibu-no-Ma with Nissho and Gessho banners.124 views
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Gosechi-no-Mai court dancers (mannequins).124 views
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About the Takamikura Imperial Throne in English. Nice that they have English signs.124 views
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The Otsunegoten has 15 rooms. 常御殿124 views
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The Shin-Mikuruma-yose had a display of two mannequins posed as Gosechi-no-Mai dancers.123 views
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It also houses the throne for the empress called the Michodai. Both the Takamikura and Michodai were originally made for Emperor Taisho's enthronement ceremony. 御 帳台122 views
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Even the uneme court waitress looks like a princess.122 views
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Nikkamon Gate (日華門) and Giyoden Hall (宜陽殿) on the right.119 views
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The naishi attendant court lady uses a folding fan to signal the respective court noble to take his seat at the court banquet. 内侍119 views
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We finally get to see the Shishinden Hall, Kyoto Imperial Palace's focal point and main building. In the southeast corner was a mannequin display.117 views
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The Ogakumonjo had a display of palace guards and official attendants.117 views
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After Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo in 1869, the town of court nobles around the old Kyoto Imperial Palace deteriorated. When Emperor Meiji saw this sorry state when visiting Kyoto in 1877, he ordered ordered this area to be reconstructed.115 views
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Jomeimon Gate is directly aligned with Kenreimon Gate. Of the three doors, the center door was used only by the emperor. Looks pretty new. 承明門115 views
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Kenreimon Gate looking from the inside. Opened only for VIP visitors.115 views
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Another major palace building is this Seiryoden, the emperor's residence from the late 8th century to 11th century. This is a reconstruction built in 1790 on a smaller scale, but close to the style of the original building. 清涼殿115 views
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The Kogosho faced this garden called Oike-niwa. 御池庭115 views
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Roof of Okurumayose.114 views
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114 views
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Painting inside the Ogakumonjo.114 views
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Veranda of Shodaibu-no-Ma. 113 views
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Displayed behind the wedding attire was this Nikai-zushi cabinet.113 views
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112 views
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Palace guard112 views
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Gonaitei Garden was the emperor's private garden. 御内庭112 views
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Rooms of the Otsunegoten had painted walls and sliding doors. 御常御殿112 views
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111 views
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Higyosha (also called Fuji-tsubo because of the wisteria in the inner courtyard) was the residence of the court ladies. It has a Heian-kyo style architecture. 飛香舎 藤壺111 views
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About the Shin-Mikuruma-yose in English.110 views
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Imperial exhibits in Giyoden Hall.110 views
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This is a depiction of the naishi toukan ni nozomu. Court lady attendant on the left and a court noble or Imperial prince on the right on standby.110 views
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On this side of the Shishinden is the omonadori (pantry) with a depiction of the uneme court waitress who delivers food during the court banquet.110 views
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The Kogosho had a large Zejo hanging tapestry of a pine tree.110 views
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Zejo hanging tapestry inside the Kogosho.110 views
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Now we came to the palace's largest structure called Otsunegoten. This was the actual residence of the emperor. Emperor Meiji lived here until he moved to Tokyo.110 views
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About the paintings in a room of the Otsunegoten.110 views
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Otsunegoten. The connected building beyond is the Omima.110 views
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The Kogogu Tsunegoten has 13 rooms. The building was constructed at the end of the 16th century.110 views
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We could clearly see inside the Seiryoden. 清涼殿109 views
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About the Seiryoden.109 views
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109 views
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Connected to the Kogosho was the Ogakumonjo. 御学問所109 views
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109 views
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About the Otsunegoten in English.109 views
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Connected to the Higyosha is the Wakamiya/Himemiya Goten palace where Imperial children lived. Emperor Meiji lived here during childhood. 109 views
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Mokou running curtain displayed in the Giyoden Hall. Hung in the Shishinden Hall during the emperor's enthronement. 108 views
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About the naishi toukan ni nozomu. Gee, how should we translate that into English? 108 views
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Keyakibashi Bridge in Oike-niwa Garden.108 views
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Rooms inside the Wakamiya/Himemiya Goten. The building had two sections of four rooms each. One section was for child princes (wakamiya) and the other was for child princesses (Himemiya).108 views
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About the Nissho and Gessho banners.107 views
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107 views
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Otsunegoten107 views
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View of Shishinden Hall through Jomeimon Gate.106 views
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Seiryoden 清涼殿106 views
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The Ogakumonjo was the emperor's study. It was also used for monthly poetry parties and when the emperor received regents, Imperial advisors, government ministers, Imperial princes, etc.106 views
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Painted fusuma sliding doors in the Kogogu Tsunegoten.106 views
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Jomeimon Gate looking from the inside.105 views
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Kogosho was a ceremonial hall for Coming-of-Age ceremonies for Imperial princes and when the emperor met with the shogun and daimyos. This building was reconstructed in 1958. 小御所105 views
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About the Zejo hanging tapestry.104 views
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About the palace guards and official attendants.104 views
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The northern palace quarters is dominated by this Kogogu Tsunegoten, the former residence of the empress. So, did the emperor and empress live separately? 皇后宮常御殿104 views
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About the Gosechi-no-Mai court dancers.103 views
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Near the Shin-mikurumayose were souvenir shops.103 views
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Corridor near Jomeimon Gate.103 views
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Nikkamon Gate (日華門)103 views
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About the omonayadori.103 views
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The emperor's throne canopy inside the Seiryoden.103 views
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103 views
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Wakamiya/Himemiya Goten 103 views
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Roof of Kogogu Tsunegoten.103 views
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About the juni-hitoe kimono and sokutai. 103 views
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Roof renovations102 views
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102 views
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The normal palace tour would end here, but for Emperor Akihito's 20th anniversary, we were allowed to proceed to the northern palace quarters. 清所門102 views
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About the Higyosha.102 views
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About the Wakamiya/Himemiya Goten.102 views
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Round roof tiles with Imperial crest on the wall.101 views
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101 views
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As we stood in line to enter Nikkamon Gate, we passed by the Giyoden Hall with various exhibits.101 views
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Bell (sho) and drum (ko) displayed in Giyoden.101 views
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101 views
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101 views
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Higyosha101 views
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100 views
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Genkimon Gate 玄輝門100 views
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Behind the Kogogu Tsunegoten was a display of wedding attire of the emperor and empress.100 views
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99 views
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Sakuheimon Gate, the main gate to Kogo Otsunegoten. Ornate but it was too narrow for us to get a good front view. 朔平門99 views
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Wakamiya/Himemiya Goten. Normal kids would rip up the paper sliding doors.99 views
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Roof of Shin-Mikuruma-yose.98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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98 views
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97 views
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Corner roof tile with Imperial crest.95 views
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A nice wooded path to the northern palace quarters of Kyoto Imperial Palace.95 views
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Sakuheimon Gate 朔平門95 views
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Some flower arrangements along the wall corridor near Jomeimon Gate.94 views
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Entering the northern palace quarters.94 views
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Going through another gate to the northern quarters.94 views
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93 views
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About Mokou running curtain.90 views
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