Tsuki no wa no misasagi, Imperial mausoleum in Higashiyama district, Kyoto, Japan.
Tsuki no wa no misasagi is an imperial mausoleum on Sennyū-ji temple grounds in Higashiyama, featuring traditional burial mounds and stone pathways leading to the grave areas. The site contains multiple tombs of emperors and empress dowagers arranged in separate burial zones.
The mausoleum was established during the Kamakura period when Emperor Go-Horikawa and Emperor Shijō were interred here, founding its role as an imperial burial ground. Over centuries, additional rulers and imperial family members were added to the site.
The mausoleum reflects how Japanese emperors chose sacred temple grounds for their final rest, a practice that shaped the spiritual landscape of Kyoto. Walking through the grounds today, visitors sense the continued reverence that defines imperial burial sites.
Access is controlled by the Imperial Household Agency and requires advance permission along with strict visitor protocols. Photography restrictions apply, so visitors should confirm current access requirements before arriving.
The grounds connect to a separate complex called Nochi no tsukinowa no misasagi, where additional imperial graves stand nearby. This arrangement reveals how multiple burial sites merged into one cohesive sacred location over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
