Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for over 1000 years, starting from the period when Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Heijo-kyo in present-day Nara to Nagaoka-kyo in Kyoto. In 794, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital again to Heian-kyo, the current location in the center of present-day Kyoto.

Emperors succeeding Emperor Kanmu transformed the Imperial Palace at Heian-kyo into the political and cultural center of Japan. The actual building itself was periodically demolished by fire. Each time the Imperial Palace was rebuilt in the same fixed place, known as the dairi. During each reconstruction period, the Emperor and his family would move temporarily into the surrounding residences belonging to the aristocracy, which came to be known as the sato-dairi.

By the late Heian period, the dairi had become more and more obsolete and as it was repeatedly destroyed by fire and warfare, ultimately fell into ruin. The present-day Imperial Palace pictured here is actually one of the sato-dairi palaces. It has been in use since 1331 when the Heian-peroid dairi was destroyed. While this sato-dairi repeatedly burned down, it was repeatedly reconstructed and served as the Imperial Palace until the capital moved to Tokyo in 1869. The current building has been standing since 1854, and was built by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the traditional Heian style.

The Palace is surrounded by earthen walls and covers approximately 27 acres and includes a number of buildings, towers, and gardens. The architectual styles on the grounds include the shinden, shoin, and sukiya. Key structures include:

* The Okuruma-yose, the entrance used by courtiers

* The Shodaibu-no-ma, a building used as a waiting area for courtiers

* The Shishenden, used for important ceremonies of state

* The Oike-niwa, a strolling garden with a large pond and bridge

* The Kogosho, a structure used in ceremonies such as the reception of the Shogun by the Emperor or coming of age ceremonies

* The Seiryoden, a structure used as the Emperor's residence