Location
Kyoto Imperial Palace 3(Garden) 京都御所3（庭園）
The white-sand garden situated in front of the Shishinden is the “South Garden” (Nantei); the strolling pond garden located east of the Kogosho and the Ogakumonjo is the “Oike-niwa” (Pond Garden); and there is also the “Gonai-tei” (Inner Garden), featuring a winding stream—all of them are magnificent.
Kyoto Imperial Palace 2 (Gates) 京都御所2 （門）
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.
Kyoto Imperial Palace1 (Overview) 京都御所1
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
Go-o Shrine（1） 護王神社（1）
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