Nagaoka-kyo was used for only 10 years between Heijo-kyo and Heian-kyo. 🌸 It's overshadowed by the two larger capitals, but it has its own drama.
It's a small park now, but seeing it after learning about its history is deeply moving. ☺️
The cherry blossoms were beautiful, and everyone was enjoying cherry blossom viewing! 😍
Visited on the morning of May 19, 2026
A park located north of Nishimuko Station in Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture
On that day, I traveled around various places by shared bicycle from Nishimuko Station and came here.
This is the site of the central part where the Daigokuden (Great Hall of State) of Nagaoka-kyo was located. There is an explanatory sign and foundation stones on display, giving a glimpse into the past.
This is a beautiful park located on the site of the former Nagaoka-kyo capital.
Nagaoka-kyo was the capital for about 10 years before Heian-kyo. However, the remains of that time are buried under residential and farmland, making it a mysterious city whose full scope is difficult to grasp.
This Daigokuden (Great Hall of State) should have been the center of the imperial court, but only an irregularly shaped vacant lot remains, sandwiched between private houses.
There is an explanatory sign about Nagaoka-kyo installed by Mukō City within the park, and there is also a vermilion-painted rest house on the north side of the park, so one can only imagine what it was like in the past by following these.
Incidentally, it's strange that despite being called Nagaoka-kyo, many of the ruins are located in Mukō City, not Nagaoka-kyo City.
Also, although it's a park, it's an archaeological site, so there are no playgrounds or other play equipment within the park. Presumably, if you want to play on playground equipment, you're supposed to go to the Kitadaigokuden Park to the north.
