Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

Kyoto Gyoen National Park is massive, stretching 1.3 km north to south and 0.7 km east to west. During the Edo period, approximately 200 residences stood in the park, where nobility and royal family members lived. During the end of the Edo period, the park was the scene of riots at the Hamaguri gate which became the bloody battle of the Hamaguri Rebellion. After the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869, the many nobles also relocated to Tokyo, leaving their houses behind to fall into ruin. Later, preservation efforts were made, and following World War II, the park was opened to the public as a national park. The park in its current state is home to roughly 50,000 trees and is a place the citizens of Kyoto go to take a break. The park is dotted with many historical remains, including nine gates scattered across the four sides of the park and ruins of the Kujo clan's tea ceremony house, Shu Sui Tei.