gosho

Gosho (御所) is a Japanese term meaning the noble’s residence or imperial palace. In classical Japan it designated the main residence of the emperor and the political and ceremonial heart of the capital. During the Heian period and the successive eras when Kyoto served as the imperial capital, the gosho referred to the palace complex within Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto) where the emperor lived and where audiences, state rites, and important affairs were conducted. The term signified a central, ceremonial space within a larger imperial compound that included offices, gardens, and audience halls. In scholarly and historical writing, Kyoto Gosho is a common reference to the ancient imperial palace complex.

In modern Japan, the capital moved to Edo (later Tokyo), and today the imperial residence is the Imperial Palace (Kōkyo). It is not typically called gosho in contemporary usage, but the historical gosho remains an important term in studies of imperial governance, architecture, and urban planning. The word gosho also appears as a place name in various parts of Japan and, less commonly, as a surname.

Culturally, the term Gosho can evoke imperial or aristocratic settings, especially in historical works, literature, and media that depict classical Kyoto or the broader imperial heritage. Overall, gosho denotes the formal residence of Japan’s ruling authority in traditional contexts, and it continues to appear in historical and cultural discussions as a marker of imperial significance.