The front gate at the center of the south end of the outer enclosure that surrounded the palace compound at Heijō-kyō 平城京 and Heian-kyō 平安京. It was one of the twelve gates on the outer walls. When the site of Suzakumon at Heijō-kyō was excavated, the plinth stones under the base stones were found to be large. Other remains of the gate indicate that the gate was built on an enormous scale: 5 x 2 bays, with each bay 5.1 m wide. The pounded groundwork, hanchiku jigyō 版築地形, was especially well prepared. It was sturdier and deeper than any other gate that has been excavated to date. The huge scale suggests that it was a 2-story, double-roof gate. The name Suzakumon is found in the Shoku nihongi 続日本紀, and it states that it was the access gate to the broad, central boulevard, Suzaku Ōji 朱雀大路, that lead to Heijō-kyō. A similar arrangement existed at Heiankyō. It had 7 bays with 5 entrances. A 2-story gate painted red faced the broad Suzaku thoroughfare opposite the gate Rajōmon 羅城門 at the south end.