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Kyoto Gyoen/Gosho
This is a citizen’s park including Kyoto Gosho or the Old Imperial Palace. The park is about 63 hectares and it’s open for everyone anytime. There are several historical remains as well as sports facilities such as tennis courts. Also the nature with about 50 thousands of trees attracts locals and the tourists all year around. 
The first imperial palace of Heiankyo (Kyoto) in 794 was about 2 kilometers to the west of where Kyoto Gosho is now. However the first palace was troubled with several fire disasters and after the fire in 1227, they never rebuilt it in the same spot again. Since 1331, when Emperor Kogon assumed the throne, Kyoto Gosho stayed where it is now. Until Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo in 1877, Kyoto Gosho had been home of the loyal family for over 500 years. 
Kyoto Gyoen has 9 gates. The most famous gate probably is “Hamaguri Gomon” (clam gate). It had a different name before but in 1788 there was a huge fire disaster. In the fire, the gate opened and it looked like a clam opening while being cooked. Ever since then it is called the clam gate. 
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