“Did emperors really live here?” someone asks. Yes. This stone marks the site of the Tsuchimikadodairi Ato.
The Tsuchimikadodairi Ato was a Heian period imperial residence. Emperors Toba, Sutoku and Konoe used it for about 24 years. It was built to resemble the Heian-kyo Daidairi. This was the first “Sato-Dairi” or detached palace.
Minamoto Morotoki owned the Tsuchimikado mansion. It experienced fires. Reconstruction stopped in 1156. Then it fell into ruin. This stone marker indicates the Tsuchimikadodairi Ato site.
The Tsuchimikadodairi Ato served three emperors. It acted as their residence. This lasted roughly thirty years. Emperor Toba 1103 to 1156, Emperor Sutoku 1119 to 1164 and Emperor Konoe 1139 to 1155 all lived here.
Fujiwara Akitsuna proposed its construction. Emperor Toba used it as a new Sato Dairi. That happened in 1117. The residence mimicked the structure of the Great Imperial Palace. The arrangement and building names mirrored the original palace.
The Tsuchimikadodairi Ato covered one square block. It spanned 100 meters in each direction. The area was defined by major streets. To the north was Tsuchimikado Oji, now Kamichojamachi street. To the south was Takatsukasa Koji, now Shimochojamachi street. To the east was Oji, now Karasuma street. To the west was Muromachi Koji, now Muromachi street.
Emperor Sutoku also used it. But fire destroyed it in 1138. It was quickly rebuilt. Emperor Konoe then used it as his detached palace.
Another fire occurred in 1148. Reconstruction began around 1152. Storms and Emperor Konoe’s death interrupted the work. The Hogen Rebellion further delayed progress.
After the Hogen Rebellion Emperor Go-Shirakawa started rebuilding the Great Imperial Palace. The Tsuchimikadodairi Ato reconstruction halted. It fell into complete ruin.
From the Muromachi period the Seiwakei-in temple moved here. Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved the temple to Teramachi. Mansions of powerful lords were built there. Hideyoshi relocated these mansions to Jurakudai.
Around 1636, the Mito residence was established. The Mito residence burned down in 1864, during the Kinmon Incident.
In 1996 part of the former site became Kyoto Garden Palace. Today a stone marker stands. It reminds us of the Tsuchimikadodairi Ato. Emperors once resided here. Now, history echoes.