Site of "Rashomon" Gate

You've seen the movie, here's the background:

Once upon a time, before it became known as Kyoto, this city was Heian-kyo, the "Capital of Peace and Tranquility" (as with any capital, this turned out not to be true). From the Heian Imperial Palace (which was northwest of where Nijo Castle is now) the main avenue, Suzaku-oji, 80 meters wide, ran down the center of town (basically, where Senbon-dori is now), dividing it, ending at the gate that was the entrance to the city and its Arc de Triomphe, Rajomon (later pronounced as Rashomon). Temples on either side of the gate (Saiji and Toji) guarded the city, spiritually speaking, but only Toji survives, with it's huge 5-storied pagoda that stands as one of the symbols of the city. All were built soon after the founding of the capital in 794, but the huge Rajomon, two stories tall and 35 meters wide, did not last long.


It my have fallen over due to wind in the early 9th century, or just rotted from neglect, as the whole complex was quite a bit south of any inhabited part of the city. The ruins did become a hangout for thieves by the 1100s, according to the record, and as depicted in opening scene of the movie. Saiji went soon after, in the fires of war.


Below, L to R: Mound and foundation stone ruins of Saiji (West Temple), 1895 signpost marking historical location of Rashomon/Rajomon (that's all that's left, now in a little neighborhood park), Toji (East Temple).