Kyoto Imperial Palace, Imperial palace in Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Kyōto Gosho is a gosho in Kamigyō-ku, Kyōto, Japan, occupying an 11-hectare rectangular site about 250 metres east-west and 450 metres north-south within the Kyoto Gyoen. Its perimeter is a high earthen wall with five horizontal ridges, pierced by six gates, and the grounds hold the Shishinden, Seiryōden and Otsune Goten halls, gravel courtyards and pond gardens.
The palace was founded in the 14th century and served as the residence of the imperial family for over five hundred years. Most of the current buildings date back to a major reconstruction in the mid-19th century following a large fire.
The name Kyōto Gosho means "imperial residence of the capital"; the palace is also called Dairi or Kinri. Kyoto residents often use "Gosho" for the whole area including Kyoto Gyoen. The Shishinden's south court holds the left cherry and right tangerine trees, and the Kenreimon gate faces the gravel approach.
Visitors can only enter the grounds on guided tours organized by the Imperial Household Agency, offered in both Japanese and English. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the paths cross gravel surfaces and the tour lasts around an hour.
The Shishinden's south front is flanked by two trees: a cherry tree on the left and a tangerine on the right, the Ukon no Tachibana. The present throne canopy and its curtained dais inside were made in 1915 for Emperor Taishō's enthronement.
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