Castle & Palace · Kyoto Gyoen / Kamigyo

Sento Imperial Palace 仙洞御所

A hidden garden palace inside Kyoto Gyoen built for retired emperors, with a pebble beach of 111,000 hand-picked stones and Kobori Enshu landscapes, seen on free guided tours.

About

The Sento Gosho was built in 1630 for the retired Emperor Go-Mizunoo, and although most of its buildings burned in 1854 and were never rebuilt, its garden, laid out by Kobori Enshu and later modified, survives. The guided tour circles two ponds: the North Pond and the South Pond, the latter famous for its shoreline paved with 111,000 smooth flat stones, each said to have been exchanged for a bag of rice. There are teahouses (Seikatei and Yushintei), wisteria trellises and maples, and the Omiya Palace, where the imperial family stays when in Kyoto, is next door. Tours last about an hour, are free, and can be booked online or on the day at the gate.

Highlights

• Suhama pebble beach of 111,000 stones
• Kobori Enshu-designed pond garden
• Seikatei and Yushintei teahouses
• Wisteria and maples
• Free guided tour

Tips

• Book online or pick up same-day tickets at the gate (limited).
• Bring passport or photo ID for the check-in.
• Combine with the Kyoto Imperial Palace in the same park.
• Autumn tours are especially beautiful.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Kyoto Gyoen National GardenPark · 500 m away
• Hafuu HontenRestaurant · 530 m away
• Kyoto Imperial PalaceCastle & Palace · 620 m away
• Kyoto State Guest HouseCastle & Palace · 660 m away
• Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main StoreUnique Store · 670 m away
• Kyo no Sushidokoro SuehiroSushi & Seafood · 690 m away
• Coin Lockers · Jingu-Marutamachi Station (Keihan)Luggage Storage · 690 m away
• Menya Takakura NijoRamen & Noodles · 800 m away