Kaninnomiya Residence Site
Imperial Palace, Kyoto
- Tue to Sun
- 9:00 to 16:30
- Mon
- Closed
Last entry 16:00. Open on Mondays that are public holidays. Closed at New Year.
Source: env.go.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
This was the residence of the Kan'in, one of the four princely houses of the Edo period, founded in 1710, and the present building went up in 1883 as an Imperial Household office. Its free exhibition, renewed in 2022, covers the Gyoen's history, its court nobles and its nature, and a VR theatre shows the old nobles' town on a 10K screen.
Insider tip
It doubles as the Gyoen's information centre. In early July the mukuge (rose of Sharon) in the garden flowers, and you can watch it from inside.
What's on near Kaninnomiya Residence Site
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Kaninnomiya Residence Site, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Autumn Tenjin-san Handmade Market at Sugawarain Tenmangu
秋の天神さまの手作り市【菅原院天満宮神社】
Time 10:00 to 16:00 Station Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk
Handmade accessories, fabric goods and sweets at a shrine said to stand on the birthplace of Sugawara no Michizane, with Gosho maples as the backdrop. Rain or shine.
Agnes Illumination 2026
アグネス・イルミネーション 2026
Time 16:30 to 21:00 (18:05 to 21:00 on 20 November) Station Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), exit 2, 5 min walk
Students and staff of Heian Jogakuin University build the campus illumination on the theme of love, and a vehicle-powered light-up runs 10 to 12 December. Free, open to the public.
Inoko-sai at Goo Shrine
亥子祭
Time From 17:00 Station Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 6 min walk
Goo Shrine, guarded by stone boars, re-creates a Heian court custom in which inoko rice cakes are pounded and carried to the Imperial Palace by a procession in court dress, then shared with visitors back at the shrine. You can join the procession in a boar-crested jacket for an offering of ¥1,000 or more on the day.
Brakeet, CC0 1.0 Agency for Cultural Affairs and Prefectural Office Area Machikado Museum
文化庁・府庁界隈まちかどミュージアム
Time Hours and dates vary by venue Station Marutamachi (Karasuma Line)
Forty venues around the Prefectural Office open historic buildings and gardens, show crafts and contemporary art, and run workshops, with a stamp rally. Some venues charge or need booking.
Royal Blue Peace Light-up at the Old Kyoto Prefectural Main Building
平和文化月間 京都府庁旧本館ライトアップ
Time 17:30 to 22:00 Station Marutamachi (Karasuma Line)
For Peace Culture Month the building is lit royal blue, the colour of the UN goal on peace and justice, in the evening.
J o, CC BY-SA 3.0 Nearby
Around Imperial Palace
Free palace walks, a park that never shuts, and the court's old shops
Kyoto Gyoen, a park 1.3 km long in central Kyoto, never closes. The Kyoto Imperial Palace sits inside it, and you can walk round it for free without booking. Around the edges you'll find Shokoku-ji (head of the Zen branch that takes in Kinkaku-ji), the house site where The Tale of Genji was written, and shops that once supplied the court.
Imperial Palace has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 6 shrines and temples, 5 landmarks, 3 museums, 2 cafes, 2 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 parks and gardens and 1 bar. Read the Imperial Palace guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Kaninnomiya Residence Site?
- Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市上京区京都御苑内).
- What are the opening hours of Kaninnomiya Residence Site?
- Tue to Sun 9:00 to 16:30; Closed Mon. Last entry 16:00. Open on Mondays that are public holidays. Closed at New Year.
- How do I get to Kaninnomiya Residence Site?
- The nearest station is Marutamachi (Karasuma Line). Kaninnomiya Residence Site is in Imperial Palace, Kyoto.
- How much does Kaninnomiya Residence Site cost?
- Nothing. Kaninnomiya Residence Site is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kaninnomiya Residence Site?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kaninnomiya Residence Site?
- Before a walk in the park.
Stay near Kaninnomiya Residence Site
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