Seiwain Gomon Gate — Attraction in Kyoto

I entered this gate during my visit to Kyoto Imperial Palace Park on 12 August 2025. The Seiwain Gomon is one of the lesser-known palace gates, but it carries its own quiet charm and rich history.

From a distance, the gate’s proportions and symmetry immediately catch the eye. Built in the classic palace style, it stands with a dark wooden frame that has weathered gracefully over time, crowned by a beautifully tiled irimoya (hip-and-gable) roof. The roofline is decorated with ornate ridge-end tiles (onigawara and kawara), each with a distinct motif that once symbolized protection and status.

The heavy double doors are reinforced with neat rows of metal rivets, their aged patina hinting at centuries of opening and closing. The design manages to be both practical — strong enough to guard the palace — and refined, reflecting the dignity of the Imperial court.

The name Seiwain Gomon comes from Seiwain, a monzeki temple once located nearby. This temple was headed by members of the imperial family and named in honor of Emperor Seiwa (reigned 858–876). In the palace’s heyday, this gate was more than just an entry point — it was one of the formal northern entrances to the Imperial Palace grounds, connecting the court to the northern district and nearby aristocratic residences. It would have been a discreet but significant portal for courtiers, temple envoys, and messengers.

Walking through the gate today, you step into a broad gravel courtyard flanked by the palace’s traditional plastered walls (tsuijibei). Tall pine trees frame the horizon, casting soft shade and lending the place a stillness that feels almost timeless. Unlike the main gates, where tour groups gather and cameras click constantly, Seiwain Gomon offers a quieter, more reflective entrance into the palace grounds. It feels almost like a secret doorway — one that lets you imagine the soft crunch of straw sandals on gravel and the low murmur of attendants carrying messages centuries ago.

While it may lack the grandeur of the palace’s primary ceremonial gates, Seiwain Gomon’s understated elegance makes it memorable. It is a reminder that in Kyoto, even the “side doors” are steeped in history and craftsmanship, each with a story worth pausing for before you move on to explore the rest of...

御所の東側、寺町広小路にある門です。かつて明治天皇がこの門から御所を出て江戸に下向されて行かれたとか。

てらまちのひろこうじもなかなか通じず、せいわいんごもんと言ってもタクシーには通じません、河原町の府立医大前を西へ入ったとこでと言えば着きます。

中に入ると京都迎賓館の手前に、大河ドラマ光る君への藤原道長の屋敷だった土御門殿跡地があります。紫式部ゆかりの廬山寺からの近さを感じるとなるほどなと。

左大文字の大の文字が御所を背にして清和院御門を見ると仰ぎ見れます。総ての歴史は京都に繋がると言...

今年の夏　蛤御門から清和院御門を目指して歩きました。大文字の送り火を拝見するためです。 此処からはとても綺麗に大文字が見えました。 点灯時には歓声があがったり、ご先祖様の霊を送るために拝まれている方も居られました。 梨木神社、大宮御所、仙洞院御所、京都迎賓館へ行かれるのでしたら清和院御門から入られるのが良いかと思われます。 今回清和院御門側から入りませんでしたので...