KYOTO　IMPERIAL　PALACE

This palace was originally built in 794, but has repeatedly been destroyed by fire and rebuilt. The buildinｇs you can see today were built in 1855 Emperor, are still held at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, even though the capital has officially moved to Kyoto.

The palace's spacious grounds cover about 110 thousand square meters, and there are nine gates in the walls, including the famous Hamaguri Gate. The palace is a favored spot for kyoto residents as well as tourists. Admission is free, but permission is required for entrance. This permission can be obtainde from the Imperial Household Agency,located on the grounds.

SHISHIN-DEN

Shishin-den is the principal edifice in the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where important state ceremonies including enthronement and annual rituals used to be held. The enthronement ceremony was originally held at the Daigokuden hall, but since the buildeng of the Daigoku-den was burned by the fire in 1177, the ceremony had been held at Dajo-kan. However, as the Dajo-kan was aoso damaged by the fire and the great civel war, called Onin-no-ran, the Emperor Gokashiwabara ascended the throne at the Shishin-den gall in today's Imperial Palace in 1521, whicd was at that time one of the detached palaces,,, named Tsuchimikado Higashinotoin-dono Palace. Since then the enthronement ceremony gad been held here in this building. Shishin-den, which was renovated together with other buildings of today's Imperial Palace in 1855, shows the Shinden style architecture with high wooden floor and a thatched roof, made of layers of cypress barks. Hisashi-type pent-roofs are attached to the four sides of the main building. Unpainted wood is used for floor board, and the under surface of the roof is exposed in the Kesho-yaneura-style. Overhang doors are between the pillars, ffacing outside, and a drainboard veranda with low railing is enclosing the building.

OIKE-NIWA GARDEN

Oike-niwa(literally,pond garden) is a landscape garden, designed in the Goaround tour style. A large pond is at the ccenter of the garden, where a suhama-type sandbar, stepping stones, bridges and an inlet for a ship are found. Visitors can enjoy the view, promenading along the path around the pond.