Heijo Palace Site Museum Travel Guide

Step back in time at the Heijo Palace Site Museum, where you can explore the captivating history of Japan's Nara Period (710-794). During this era, Nara, then called Heijo-kyo, flourished as the nation's capital, and the Heijo Palace served as the center of political and cultural life.The museum exhibits the ongoing archaeological research at the Heijo Palace site since 1959. See artifacts excavated from the palace ruins, offering insights into the lives of emperors, aristocrats, and officials who once walked these grounds. Dioramas recreate government offices and palace interiors, providing a vivid glimpse into the architecture and daily life of the Nara period.Major structures of the former palace complex have been reconstructed in recent decades, including the Former Audience Hall (Daigokuden), the largest building on the palace grounds. The large audience hall was used for important ceremonies and meetings. The main entrance of the First Daigokuden Compound, known as the "Daigoku Gate (Southern Gate)," was newly completed in March 2022.Don't miss the Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, where you can view exposed excavation sites. The Restoration Project Information Center introduces the First Daigokuden-in restoration project. The Toin Garden, with its curved pond, is considered the roots of Japanese gardens.