An emperor mainly occupied Hi-no-omashi (the daytime living area for shutsugyo (emperor's arrival (at his office, and so on)) and Yoru-no-otodo (emperor's sleeping quarters with nurigome (room surrounded with thick walls)) and to the north of this was the Kokiden-no-ue-no-mitsubone (room for dignified lady-in-waiting of Kokiden (one of the royal halls)) and the Higyosha-no-ue-no-mitsubone (room for dignified lady-in-waiting of Higyosha (one of the royal halls)) (both rooms for waiting on an empress).
天皇が主に居住するのは中心の昼御座（ひのおまし、天皇出御の場）・夜御殿（よるのおとど、天皇の寝所の塗籠）で、その北には弘徽殿上御局・飛香舎上御局（后妃の伺候する部屋）がある。