Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the emperor's residence for more than one thousand years until in 1868 the capital and the Imperial family were moved to Tokyo. The former emperor's residence, the Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho), is one of the most intriguing in their beauty sites in Japan and one of the main attractions for the tourists.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is a massive rectangular construction, about 450m north-south and 250m east-west, covering the area of about one hundred and ten thousand square meters. The palace complex is enclosed by a long wall and consists of six gates, several halls and majestic gardens.

The former emperor's residence was burnt down several times and each time Japanese designers and architects reconstructed it to preserve its ancient style. The last rebuilding of the palace was done in 1855.

You can visit the Palace only on guided tours, held by the Imperial Household Agency. In order to join a tour, you need to apply in advance with your passport at the agency's office in the Kyoto Imperial Park. Reservations over the internet are also available.

During you visit to Tokyo, you have an opportunity to see the current emperor's residence, as well as the Emperor and Empress in the Imperial Palace (Kokyo), located on the former site of Edo Castle. It is a large park area, surrounded by massive stonewalls and moats right in the center of Tokyo, not far from the Tokyo station. The palace was destroyed during World War II, but soon rebuilt in the same style. There is a large plaza in front of the present emperor's residence with a view on two bridges, which form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge that you will see first is called Eyeglass Bridge. The bridge on the back was formerly a wooden bridge with two levels, from which it bears its name of Double Bridge.

The Imperial Palace East Gardens, formerly the innermost circles of defense of the Edo Castle, are a part of the inner palace area and are open to the public, except on Mondays, Fridays and some special occasions. However, the inner gardens and palace buildings are not always open to the public. The visitors can see the Imperial Family on the balcony with their New Year greeting only on January, 2 and on December, 23, on the Emperor's birthday. During the rest of the year, the Imperial Household Agency offers tours in Japanese with an English pamphlet and an audio guide provided. It is necessary to make reservations in advance and the Internet reservations are possible. The Imperial Family carefully keeps ancient traditions of the oldest monarchy in the world. Although all that is going on behind the "Imperial curtain", the Emperor Akihito and his family prepare for state banquets and understand the value of such court customs as cormorant fishing, New Year's poetry contests and listening to gagaku, traditional music that court musicians perform.

The enthronement of Emperor Akihito took place in the current Imperial Palace in Tokyo. However, all previous enthronements were gracefully held in the Imperial Palace Kyoto that is still a symbol of imperial power, continuing for around one thousand years in the former Japan's capital.