The Inner Palace or was located to the north-east of the somewhat to the east of the central north-south axis of the Greater Palace. Its central feature was the Throne Hall. The encompassed the emperor's quarters and the pavilions of the imperial consorts and ladies-in-waiting (collectively, the ). The was enclosed within two sets of walls. In addition to the itself, the outer walls enclosed some household offices, storage areas, and the , a walled area of Shinto buildings associated with the emperor's religious functions, situated to the west of the itself, at the geographic centre of the Greater Palace. The principal gate of the larger enclosure was the , located in the southern wall along the median north-south axis of the .