Grand Duke Henri ends Japan trip in the historic Sento Palace Garden

Grand Duke Henri ends Japan trip in the historic Sento Palace Garden

Kyoto, Japan - On June 3, 2025, Grand Duke Henri von Luxembourg ended his diplomatic trip to Japan in the historic city of Kyoto. This trip, which took place from May 27 to June 1, was marked by the world exhibition in Osaka and the upcoming celebrations for the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relationships between Japan and Luxembourg in 2027.

At the beginning of his trip, the Grand Duke visited the metropolis of Tokyo, where he shared a dinner with Emperor Naruhito in the imperial palace. He then traveled to Osaka to take part in events to promote cooperation between Japan and Luxembourg. The end of his trip took place in Kyoto, where he visited the gardens of the Sento Kaiser Palace.

the Sento Kaiser Palace and its gardens

The Sento Kaiserpalast, also known as Kyoto Sentō Gosho, was built under Emperor Go-Mizunoo in 1630 and was retired as a retreat for emperors. Although the original palace building was destroyed in a fire in 1854, the gardens of the palace have been preserved. These gardens, which were designed by the famous gardening master Kobori Enshū, exemplifies garden art from the Edo era.

Visitors can explore the gardens after prior registration. Access takes place as part of free tours organized by the imperial agency. However, these tours that take about an hour are only available in Japanese. For international guests, however, audio leaders are available in several foreign languages ​​to offer a deeper insight into the imperial architecture and the historical context.

kyoto: a city with history

Kyoto, with more than 1.4 million inhabitants, was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868. During the visit, Grand Duke Henri met the Luxembourg Honorary Consul in Kyoto, Shigehiko Hattori, and deepened diplomatic relationships between the two nations. The city is known for its Buddhist temples, old Shinto shrines and classic garden landscapes.

The gardens of the Sento Kaiserpalast include the picturesque areas of North and South Pond and offer visitors a quiet retreat to experience the beauty of nature and imperial history. Even if the palace buildings no longer exist, some structures, such as the Seikatei Tehaus, can be entered in order to give visitors an impression of the imperial design and style.

Grand Duke Henri's trip to Japan not only brings a piece of Luxembourg diplomacy to the Far East, but also shows the cultural and historical connections between the two nations. The efforts to strengthen these relationships will surely be maintained in the coming years.

For more information about the trip and the gardens of the Sento Kaiserpalast, note the articles from histoires royales and japan-guide .