Imperial Palace, Kyoto: outside the Shishinden compound, looking through the Gekkamon Gate in the west wall of the compound towards the Nikkamon Gate in the east wall of the compound

NOTES: The present building dates from 1855, but attempts to reproduce the style of the original palace, which dates back to the 12th century. Like many wooden buildings in Japan, it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times over the course of its history.