For a long period of time, Kyoto had been the capital of Japan, and we Kyoto residents are still proud of it. Although the capital was transferred to Tokyo at the time of Meiji restoration (明治維新, the establishment of the new government after the downfall of Tokugawa shogunate), we often refer to Kyoto as the place where the all the emperors resided.

Upon the transfer of the last emperor in Kyoto, the emperor said that he’d come back to Kyoto soon, and we still joke about it today that the emperor hasn’t come back yet. However in any sense, it’s easy to imagine that the transfer of the capital must have been an enormous shock to everybody. Since then, Gosho (御所, the emperor’s residence, the imperial palace) has become a very important place to us.

History-wise, the Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇) established the Heiankyo (平安京) in 794, and the palace was first built around the intersection of Senbon and Marutamachi streets, and then transferred to the current location in 1331. In 1869, Meiji restoration took place, thus the emperor had to move to Tokyo. Now the Gosho is under the management of the Imperial Household Agency (宮内庁) as one of the first class facility/site of Japan.

This year, Japan had the commencement of the new era called Reiwa (令和). Visiting and observing beautiful buildings with significant historical importance, such as Shishinden (紫宸殿, ceremony hall) and Seiryoden (清涼殿, ceremony hall), will be a wonderful opportunity to feel the traditional court culture of Japanese. Please try YUMEYAKATA kimono and visit the Gosho near by.

Access:
5mins. on foot from Subway Imadegawa station
5mins. on foot from Karasuma-Imadegawa, Kyoto city bus

http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/guide/kyoto.html

Akane Kibune
Kyoto Expert Certificate 1st Grade