Ryubidan
The Ryubidan balustrade, lacquered in red with ornately engraved and gilded metalwork, separates the front part of the courtyard from the upper, inner area. To the left and right of the raised area are the Byakkoro and Soryuro towers and at the far end is a large worship hall, the Daigokuden.
In the State Hall of the Imperial Palace, or Chodoin complex, the Daigokuden was a ceremonial hall reserved for the most important ceremonies and affairs of state and is where the emperor’s throne was located. In the palace original, only the most highly ranking court officials were permitted to enter the raised half of the courtyard and approach the Daigokuden. Here, the balustrade demarcates the inner area where worshippers go to engage in prayer.
Past the Ryubidan on the left is the Byakkoro Tower and the entrance to the shrine gardens.