Discover a Quiet and Peaceful side of Kyoto
The Kyoto Imperial Palace features numerous gates; in the past, the specific gate one could use was strictly determined by social rank and purpose. There are many famous gates, each with its own distinctive character and charm—such as the Gishu-mon, Gekka-mon, and Kenrei-mon. The Seisho-mon serves as the entrance for public tours.
You can visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace for free without a reservation, and a tour of the grounds takes approximately 50 minutes.
Free multilingual audio guide apps are available for use at various points along the tour route. Starting now, I’ll introduce the site by categorizing the tour highlights into four areas: the overall grounds, gates, buildings, and gardens.
Location
You can see wild boar statues in place of the usual guardian dogs, a boar-themed purification fountain, and boar figures scattered throughout the shrine grounds.
Location
Located on the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, opposite the Hamaguri-gomon Gate, Go-o Shrine is known as the “Wild Boar Shrine” and is believed to offer blessings for recovery from ailments and injuries affecting the legs and lower back.
The shrine enshrines Wake no Kiyomaro—who played a pivotal role in Emperor Kanmu’s relocation of the capital to Heian-kyo—and his older sister, Wake no Hiromushi; images illustrating this history are displayed along Karasuma-dori Street.
Location
Choose one of five colored candles—each corresponding to a different type of blessing—and step into the Mitarashi River; there, use the pure water to cleanse your body and spirit of negative energy before lighting and offering your candle.
Location