The Kyoto Imperial Palace has been the residence of the Japanese Emperors until 1869, when the capital was moved to Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration. Kyoto became the capital in the 8th century, when Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara (then Heijo-kyo) first to Nagaoka-kyo than to Kyoto (then Heian-kyo). The new capital’s main roads and streets were designed in a grid pattern, to make the city’s layout in a rectangle shape. The Imperial Palace burned down and got reconstructed several times, as many other historical sites across Japan.
The Gardens are open for visitors, but none of the buildings can be entered.

Fujifilm X-T10, Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6