Core Kyoto

Gateways: Sacred Demarcations that Repel Evil

Gates allow passage through walls, fences and hedges, which separate individual premises from the outside. Temple, castle and residential gates take various forms depending on their design, location and purpose. In some cases, they act as borders between the sacred and the secular to repel malevolent forces. Discover the diversity of gates in the ancient capital, from the elaborate and decorative to the simple.