Higyosha

The Higyosha is a palace that functions as the main hall of the Inner Palace area, which includes the Kogogu-tsunegoten (Empress’ Residential Building), Wakamiya-goten (Prince’s Residential Building), and Himemiya-goten (Princess’s Residential Building). Its origins can be traced back to the Heian Palace, where it was used as a residence for the Chugu (equivalent to Empress) and Nyogo (Imperial Secondary Consort). It is particularly known as the stage for court ceremonies such as the Judai-no-gi (Ceremony of Entering the Court) and wisteria viewing banquets. After the medieval period, its construction was discontinued, but in the late Edo period, in 1794, it was revived for the Judai-no-gi of Princess Yoshiko, who became Emperor Kokaku’s Empress.