Kyoto Omiya Imperial Palace

Omiya Gosho is a historic palace inside Kyoto Gyoen next to Kyoto Gosho, formerly the residence of an empress dowager and now used as the imperial family's Kyoto lodging. Its garden looks over a northern pond and Higashiyama, and while the exterior is Japanese, the interior is furnished in Western style. Visits run on timed reservations, with free guidance from Imperial Household Agency staff and up to four reservations per person. Entry is not possible without a reservation, and visitors walk a long distance along small stone paths.