Photo/Illutration Many people wait in line to see the Daijokyu hall at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 21. (Shiro Nishihata)

A mysterious Imperial Palace ceremonial compound built solely for Emperor Naruhito’s succession rituals opened to the public for the first time on Nov. 21, drawing long lines of visitors.

The Imperial Household Agency, however, said it decided not to open the inner area of the buildings to the public because the rituals are secret and the officials didn’t want the public to make any presumptions about them.

About 1,400 curious visitors gathered at the Sakashita-mon gate of the Imperial Palace, an entrance for the public viewing of the compound, before the gate opened at 9 a.m.

They were there to see two shrines called Yukiden (east side) and Sukiden (west side), where Naruhito made an offering to the gods and prayed for peace in Japan and a strong harvest during the Nov. 14-15 Daijokyu-no-Gi ritual. The ritual was a key event of the Daijosai imperial succession rites.

The shrines are part of 30 or so temporary structures on a 90 meters square block inside the palace known as the Daijokyu hall.

Visitors were instructed to take a tour from the south side of Daijokyu and proceed westward to see the Sukiden.

“My understanding of the Daijokyu hall has deepened by seeing it in person,” said Shigeo Usami, 47, a Tokyo social studies teacher, who came to see the compound for his research.

The compound will be open to the public until Dec. 8. The viewing hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.