Nara City Tourism Association

In this facility, the outcomes of the excavation surveys for the Nara Palace and its site conducted annually by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties from 1959 are exhibited. The government office and the inside of the Palace of that time are reproduced on a full scale. Together with excavated artifacts, how people of the ancient capital Nara lived is explained in an easy-to-understand manner.

The Daiichiji Daigokuden was the largest palace in the Heijo Palace and was used for the most important national ceremonies such as the enthronement ceremony of the emperor and meetings with foreign envoys. The current building, which was restored in 2010, is about 44m wide at the front, about 20m wide at the sides, and about 27m high. You can see the interior of the highlights such as the Takamikura, the emperor's throne, and the coloring of the walls. The vast area of approximately 320m from north to south and 180m from east to west, including this Daiichiji Daigokuden, is being reconstructed as the “Daiichiji Daigokuden-in”, which was the central facility of Heijo Palace. The Tsuiji Corridor and Tozairou surrounding the Daigokuden will also be restored over a long period of time while the construction site is open to the public.

In this facility, the government office remains of the Nara period found during the excavation survey are preserved and exhibited just as they were discovered. In addition to impressive “Exposed Display of Relics,” unveiled well sites, precious artifacts such as wooden tubs, and building models reproduced based on the research and study are also exhibited.

The East Palace Garden was used as a diplomatic venue, and parties were held there. The indented shoreline shows us an elegant garden style in the Nara period. This is one of the important sites, being regarded as the original form of the Japanese garden in the Heian period and thereafter, which focuses on the natural scenery.

Suzakumon, the main gate of Heijo Palace, served as a majestic entry point. From here, the 75-meter wide Suzaku Avenue extended straight ahead to Rajomon, the entrance to Heijo Palace. Flanking the Suzakumon gate, a 6-meter-high Tsukiji wall, made of hardened earth, enclosed the palace, which spanned about 1 square kilometer.

In the past, grand ceremonies were held in front of the gate on New Year's Day and for the arrival and departure of diplomatic envoys. Additionally, it was the site of Utagaki, where men and women of the capital would gather to sing love songs to one another. The current Suzakumon was meticulously restored in 1998, featuring a 25-meter frontage and standing 20 meters tall, with an elegant double-layered gabled roof.