The Heijo Palace Site is the historical center of Heijo-kyo, the ancient capital established in 710. Modeled after the ancient Chinese cities of Chang'an and Luoyang, Heijo-kyo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara." Today, the site is preserved as the Heijo Palace Site Historical Park. Located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, it is accessible via the Kintetsu Nara Line. From Kintetsu Nara Station, take the train to Yamato-Saidaiji Station, and the site is about a 10-minute walk. Here, we introduce six highlights of the Heijo Palace Site, which boasts over 1,300 years of history, along with museums, facilities, and events.
1. The First Daigokuden
The First Daigokuden is the most important building in Heijo Palace where ceremonies such as the enthronement of the emperor were held. It is located about 800m north of the Suzaku Gate and was restored in 2010 to coincide with the 1300th anniversary of the Heijo Capital Move. It is impressive with a width of about 44m, a side of about 20m, and a height of about 27m. The building is made of 44 vermilion pillars with a diameter of about 70cm and about 97,000 roof tiles, making it the largest palace in Heijo Palace. Restoring the First Daigokuden was extremely difficult because no historical documents or paintings from that time remain.
The foundation revealed by the excavation survey and the east tower of Yakushiji Temple, which was built in the same period, were used as references. The roof tiles are faithfully reproduced in the moist black color unique to the tiles excavated from the Daigokuden. Opening hours are 9:00-16:30 (entry until 16:00). The garden is closed on Mondays and during the New Year holidays, and admission is free. You'll be amazed at its size when you look up at it up close.
Name: Heijo Palace Ruins
Address: 30 Noborioji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Official and related site URL: http://heijo-kyo.com/
2. Suzakumon Square
Suzakumon Square opened in front of Suzakumon Gate in March 2018, after the construction of "Suzaku-oji" and "Nijo-oji" was completed. When Heijo-kyo was in existence, the square in front of Suzakumon Gate was an irreplaceable place of celebration for the people of the Nara period. The current Suzakumon Square can be said to be a lively place that has been revived in modern times after 1,300 years.
In addition, Suzakumon Square is home to "Tenpyo Miharashikan", which has an observation deck and bicycle rentals, "Tenpyo Mitsukikan", where you can buy information and souvenirs, "Tenpyo Umashikakan", which has a restaurant and cafe, and "Tenpyo Tsudoikan", which has a rest area and coin lockers. There are plenty of facilities you can use when you want to take a break from sightseeing, so be sure to stop by.
3. Heijo Palace Site Museum
The Heijo Palace Site Museum exhibits pottery, roof tiles, wooden tablets, building models, aerial photographs, and diorama models of excavations. Volunteers provide free guided tours of the museum, so be sure to check them out. Opening hours are 9:00-16:30 (entry until 16:00). The museum is closed on Mondays and during the New Year holidays, and entry is free.
Permanent exhibits include a guidance corner that introduces the history of the Heijo Palace Site and the process of excavation surveys, a restored government office exhibition corner that recreates the life of officials at the Heijo Palace Site, and a restored palace exhibition corner that recreates the palace where the emperor and aristocrats lived, divided into four rooms. There are also other exhibits such as an artifact exhibition corner and an archaeological science corner, so there is plenty to see. The special exhibition room holds special exhibitions several times a year, so be sure to check them out.
Name: Heijo Palace Site Museum
Address: 2-9-1 Nijo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Official and related site URL: https://www.nabunken.go.jp/heijo/museum/index.html
4. Restoration Project Information Center
The Restoration Project Information Center is a facility that introduces the First Daigokuden-in restoration project through CG images, tools, and sample documents. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00 (18:30 from June to September). Admission is free. There is an exhibition corner where you can view materials on the restoration project, a lobby where you can take a break and check the tour route, and a theater corner where you can watch videos about the restoration project. The "First Daigokuden-in Restoration and Maintenance Model, 1/200 Scale" is an intricate reproduction of the First Daigokuden-in, and is a must-see as it shows the overall appearance of the building when completed.
5. Remains Exhibition Hall
The Remains Exhibition Hall is a facility where you can see the remains found during excavation surveys as they were, and displays restored models of the Imperial Palace and government offices. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00), and admission is free.
The museum is divided into three main areas, where you can see the precious remains in their original state as they were excavated. The north building displays pillar holes from buildings in the Nara period, while the middle building introduces the functions of the government office and government affairs. The south building also displays parts of the building's foundations and corridors, making it a very interesting sight. Take a look around and imagine what it was like at the time.
6. Toin Garden
Discovered in 1967, the Toin Garden is an area built around a pond measuring 60m east to west and 60m north to south at the southeastern end of the Toin, where the Crown Prince's palace once stood. After excavation and investigation, it was restored in 1998. The garden, with its curved pond at its center, is said to be the roots of Japanese gardens. Opening hours are 9:00 am - 4:30 pm (entry until 4:00 pm), and admission is free.
Event information
At Heijo Palace Site, various events are held throughout the year, such as the "Oritoyama Festival 2019 Nara Chitose Iwai Matsuri" in January, the "Heijo-kyo Tenpyo Festival" in May, the "Tenpyo Tanabata Festival" in August, the "Toin Garden Moon Viewing Event" in September, and the "Mitsuki Umasi Festival" in October. Be sure to check the schedule in advance if you plan to visit. Constructing structures like the First Daigokuden would have required significant effort from the people of the Nara period. When visiting Nara, consider adding the Heijo Palace Site to your itinerary.