Until the restoration of 1868, this was the residence of the Japanese
Imperial family. The palace burnt down and was moved around the city several
times over the centuries. The present reconstruction dates from 1855. The
palace complex is enclosed by a long wall and consists of several gates, halls
and gardens. The Kyoto Imperial
Palace is rectangular in shape,
about 450m north-south and 250m east-west, covering an area of approximately
110,000 square meters. The Shishinden or
Ceremonial Hall is the main building. The
Seiryoden, the Kogosho, and several other structures are also located
here. To the south of the
Shishinden is the Dan-tei or Courtyard of white sand. On its three sides
is a white walled corridor with bright vermilion pillars.
The palace can be visited only on guided tours held by the
Imperial Household Agency. In order to join a tour, you need to apply for
permission in advance with your passport at the agency's office in the Kyoto
Imperial Park.
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle
was built by Tukugawa Ieyasu as his Kyoto
residence around 1600. The palace building now known as Ninomaru or
secondary castle was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson
Iemitsu. It contains decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like
nightingales when someone walks on them as a security measure against intruders.
Iemitsu also added the Honmaru or main castle including a five storied
castle tower, walls, and a moat. The original, however, was destroyed by fire
in the 18th Century and the present structure was moved here from
the imperial palace in 1893.
Following the wall around will bring the visitor to the Kara
Mon or Chinese Gate which is the entrance into the Ninomaru
Palace. Decorated by cranes,
flowers, and butterflies on the outer panels and Chinese tigers, lions and a
dragon on the inner panels this gate is a splendid sight. The main complex of Ninomaru
Palace is a group of five buildings
staggering to the northwest. The first group of buildings is the Carriage Porch
or Karuma Yose followed by the Tozamurai. It was in this building that visitors
would wait for an audience with the shogun. The next building is called
Shikidai, followed by Ohiroma. In Ohiroma there are several mannequins in
traditional garb, sitting in on an audience with the shogun. The next building,
the Kuroshoin, is connected to Ohiroma by a long chamber and was reserved for
the friends and family of the shogun. The last building, Shiro-shoin, was the
shogun's residence, where only his wives and concubines were allowed. The
further one made it into the compound the more distinguished and high ranking
they were. All of the buildings, except the Shiro-shoin, have paintings that
use brilliant colors and heavy amounts of gilt. Tigers, birds, flowers, and
massive trees are some of the themes displayed in the paintings. On the other
hand, the paintings in the shogun's living quarters are more subdued and
feature mountain and water scenes in softer shades than the rest of the palace.