'Sento Palace’ means the residence for the emperor emeritus, and ‘Omiya Palace’ means the one for his consort, the empress emerita. In 1630, these two residences were built at the present site which is adjacent to the Kyoto Imperial Palace for Emperor Emeritus Gomizunō and his consort. Destroyed repeatedly by fire, the buildings were rebuilt each time. The last major fire, which occurred in 1854, burned down all the main buildings. In 1867, Omiya Palace was rebuilt and presently it is used as accommodations for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. The main building of Sento Palace was not rebuilt.
Its elegant garden contains two large ponds and two tea house pavilions. A garden path leads around the North Pond and crosses a canal connecting the North and South Ponds by an earthen bridge, and leads around the South Pond. The South Pond is famous for its graceful bank lined with flat oval pebbles. In spring, cherry blossoms, wisteria trellis and azaleas can be enjoyed. In autumn, the garden is ablaze with autumn leaves.