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A Park full of nature and distinguished history

This spacious park spreads out 700 meters east-west and 1,300 meters north-south in the very heart of the city and is the starting point for the Aoi-matsuri and Jidai-matsuri festivals whilst also serving as the famous backdrop to the public viewing of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, all of which are attended by visitors from all over Japan. Up to the end of the Edo period, the park was a town, or district, containing some 140 residences of imperial families and aristocrats, but, with the Meiji Restoration, the Emperor and his aides shifted to Tokyo, leaving the residences to be dismantled and the remaining nature to be enjoyed by the public across the seasons.
Some buildings remain from the Edo period, and among them, the Site of the Kan-in no Miya Residence is used for cultural purposes today. Also, Shusui-tei Tea Ceremony House: certain historical structures from the late Edo period, are open along with the Japanese garden to the public for various events. This park also neighbors historical facilities such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace, as well as the Kyoto State Guest House, which adds further cultural significance to the area.