On September 1, 2024, the Honmaru Palace, an important cultural property of Nijo Castle in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, was opened to the public for the first time in 18 years. Visitors came from far away to appreciate the palace architecture of the former imperial family, which had undergone preservation repairs and earthquake-proofing work, and were fascinated by the elegant interior decorations, such as the numerous sliding screen paintings.
The viewing was limited to small groups, and the first nine people visited at 9:30 a.m. They toured the "Ichi-no-ma" study room, with its gold leaf-covered walls, and the "Shozuru-no-ma" room of the Gotsugoten, with its eye-catching pine and crane painting by painter Kano Eigaku. Visitors felt the modern court culture with the paper sliding doors depicting clouds and cranes and the lamps from the Taisho period used throughout.
A male doctor (64 years old) from Kagamihara City, Gifu Prefecture, who frequently visits Kyoto, said, "It was wonderful. The sliding screen paintings were different for each room, and the authority of the imperial family was conveyed."
The Honmaru Palace was destroyed in the Tenmei fire during the Edo period, and the current building was relocated from Katsura Palace in 1894. It was used as accommodation for the crown prince and others from the Meiji period through to the Taisho period. The building was distorted in the Great Hanshin earthquake, and has been closed to the public since 2006 due to its lack of strength.
The Honmaru Palace is open all year round, but tickets must be purchased in advance on the Nijo Castle website. An additional fee of 1,000 yen is charged in addition to the castle admission fee (800 yen for general admission).
