Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto was the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace was the emperor's residence until Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo in 1869. The palace has been rebuilt many times after fires; the present complex was rebuilt in 1855, in a style that recalls the architecture of the Heian period. It is managed by the Imperial Household Agency and is still used for some ceremonies: the enthronements of the emperors from Meiji to Showa took place here.

The route takes you past the main ceremonial buildings rather than inside them. The Shishinden, the hall for state ceremonies, is the most important, fronted by a wide courtyard of white gravel and flanked by a cherry and a mandarin orange tree. Nearby is the Seiryoden, originally the emperor's living quarters, as well as the Kogosho, Ogakumonjo and Otsunegoten, each showing the styles of a different era. Towards the end of the route is a pond garden with bridges and carefully placed stones, quietly attractive in the autumn colours.

The palace is open to the public free of charge, and individual visitors can enter without booking. Entry is through the Seishomon gate on the west side, where bags are checked. It is closed on Mondays and over the New Year, and on some days for official events, so check the Imperial Household Agency website for the current calendar and opening times. Free guided tours, including tours in English, are offered at set times. Allow about an hour. The route is mostly level, on gravel paths.

The palace stands inside Kyoto Gyoen, a large national garden run by the Ministry of the Environment, with lawns, gravel avenues and groves of trees that are open to everyone throughout the day. The park is a pleasant place for a picnic or a walk, and its weeping cherry trees near the northern end draw crowds in late March. Families will find space for children to run around, which is rare in central Kyoto.

Imadegawa Station on the Karasuma subway line is at the north-west corner of the park and Marutamachi Station at the south-west corner, both a short walk from the Seishomon gate. The Sento Imperial Palace, also in the park, can be seen on a separate guided tour. Nijo Castle is a short taxi or subway ride away, and Demachiyanagi, with its well-known bean cake shop and the Kamo River delta, is a fifteen-minute walk east.