Imperial Palace & East Gardens
皇居
The emperor's residence at the center of Tokyo: free East Gardens on 400-year-old castle grounds, and a 5 km moat walking loop
About Imperial Palace & East Gardens
There's something quietly extraordinary about the Imperial Palace. It sits on the exact spot where Edo Castle, the power centre of the Tokugawa shoguns for 250 years, once stood, right in the middle of Tokyo. The emperor lives here. Around it, skyscrapers and eight-lane highways pulse with millions of commuters. Inside the moats, it's pine trees, gravel paths, stone walls from the 1600s, and almost total silence. The contrast is one of the most striking things you'll experience in Tokyo.
Most visitors come for the East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen), which are free and open to the public without reservation. The gardens sit on the former grounds of Edo Castle's innermost compound, and you can still see the massive stone foundations of the old castle keep, the original guard houses, and beautifully maintained gardens that change with every season: cherry blossoms in spring, irises and hydrangeas in early summer, vivid maples in autumn. It's a genuine escape: there are no shops, no vending machines, no loudspeakers. Just well-maintained paths, historical ruins, and birdsong.
The main palace building itself is only open to the public on two days a year (January 2 and the Emperor's Birthday), but free guided tours of the inner grounds run twice daily on weekdays and require advance booking through the Imperial Household Agency. For most visitors, the East Gardens plus a walk around the outer moat (a popular running loop for Tokyoites) make for a wonderful half-day. Combine it with nearby Nihonbashi, Tokyo Station, or Chiyoda; you're right in the centre of everything.
Essential Tips
East Gardens are FREE, with no reservation needed. Just show up, collect a token at the gate, and return it when you leave
Closed Mondays and Fridays (and some holidays); check the Imperial Household Agency website before visiting
For the guided inner-grounds tour, reserve online at sankan.kunaicho.go.jp up to 4 days in advance
Best photo of Nijubashi: stand at the public plaza (Kokyo Gaien) in the morning for soft light and minimal crowds
Cherry blossom season: Chidorigafuchi moat (northwest) is the highlight, with rowboat rental at ¥800/30 min
The 5 km moat loop is Tokyo's best running route: flat, scenic, and car-free on the inner path
Autumn foliage (mid-November) in the East Gardens is beautiful and much less crowded than spring
No food or drink shops inside the gardens, so bring water, especially in summer
Combine with Tokyo Station (10-minute walk) for Ramen Street lunch or Nihonbashi for shopping
January 2 (New Year's) and the Emperor's Birthday are the only days the main palace opens to the public. Expect 80,000+ visitors
Don't Miss
Imperial Palace East Gardens
The highlight for most visitors. Walk through the Otemon gate, past the original Edo-era guard house, and into beautifully landscaped gardens built on the old castle grounds. The Ninomaru Garden is the most photogenic section: an iris garden, a pond, and perfectly pruned trees. In spring, the cherry blossoms along the upper paths are stunning. Allow 1–1.5 hours for a relaxed walk.
Edo Castle Ruins & Tenshudai
The stone foundations of Edo Castle's main keep (tenshu) are still standing: a massive stone platform that once supported the tallest castle tower in Japan (51 metres, destroyed by fire in 1657 and never rebuilt). Climb the steps for a view over the gardens and toward the modern skyline. The contrast between the 400-year-old stones and the glass towers is quintessentially Tokyo.
Nijubashi (Double Bridge) Photo Spot
The most photographed view of the palace: two elegant bridges leading to the main gate, reflected in the moat water with pine trees framing the scene. You can't cross the bridges without a guided tour reservation, but the view from the public plaza (Kokyo Gaien) is the classic postcard shot. Best in the morning when the light is soft.
Moat Walk / Running Loop
A 5 km path circles the outer moat, one of Tokyo's most popular running routes. Even if you're walking, the moat section between Takebashi and Hanzomon is beautiful: stone walls rising from the water, weeping willows, and the occasional heron fishing in the moat. Cherry blossom season along the Chidorigafuchi moat section (northwest side) is spectacular.
What to Do Here
East Gardens Self-Guided Walk
Enter through Otemon Gate, pass the guard house (Hyakunin-bansho), walk up to the Tenshudai castle keep ruins, explore the Ninomaru Garden, and exit through either Otemon or Hirakawamon. Free English pamphlets are available at the gate.
Tips:
- Enter through Otemon Gate (closest to Otemachi Station), the main entrance
- Pick up a free plastic token at the gate and return it when you leave
- The Ninomaru Garden (lower level) is the most photogenic section
- The museum of Imperial collections is free and small but worth a quick look
Guided Inner Grounds Tour
Free guided tours of the inner palace grounds (areas not normally open) run at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM on weekdays. You'll see Fujimi-yagura (a three-storey turret), the inner moat, and several buildings. The tour is in Japanese, but English audio guides and materials are provided.
Tips:
- Reserve online at the Imperial Household Agency website, up to 4 days in advance
- Same-day registration sometimes available at Kikyo-mon Gate (arrive early)
- Bring passport (ID required)
- No large bags; coin lockers at Tokyo Station if needed
Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossom Walk
The moat section along Chidorigafuchi (northwest side of the palace) is one of Tokyo's most photographed cherry blossom locations. Trees overhang the water and rowboats (¥800/30 min) are available to drift among the falling petals. Evening illuminations run during peak bloom (typically late March to early April). The Hanzomon to Kudanshita walking path is the strongest stretch.
Tips:
- Rowboat rental opens at 9:30 AM. Queue early on weekends (waits of 1–2 hours are common)
- Evening illuminations (6–10 PM) during peak bloom; check dates at chidorigafuchi.info
- The Hanzomon to Kudanshita walking path is the best stretch
- Combine with the East Gardens for a full palace morning
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
east Gardens
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Nov–Feb), until 5:00 PM (Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct), until 5:30 PM (May–Aug). Closed Mondays, Fridays, and certain holidays.
guided Tours
10:00 AM and 1:30 PM on weekdays (advance reservation required via Imperial Household Agency)
outer Moat
24/7 (public pathways around the moat)
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings for fewest visitors. Late March–early April for cherry blossoms. Mid-November for autumn foliage.
Avoid:
January 2 and Emperor's Birthday, when the palace opens to public and draws 80,000+ visitors
Nearby
Tokyo Station
Historic red-brick station with Ramen Street and Character Street underground. A 10-minute walk.
800 metres
Kitanomaru Park
Green park with the Science Museum, Crafts Gallery, and Budokan arena. Connected to East Gardens.
Adjacent (north side)
Yasukuni Shrine
Controversial war memorial with a fascinating (and sobering) museum. 15-minute walk north.
1 km
Nihonbashi
Historic bridge and shopping district with COREDO Muromachi and Mitsukoshi department store.
1.2 km
Gallery
Nijubashi: the palace's most iconic view
East Gardens: free, peaceful, and beautiful in every season
Tenshudai: foundations of the tallest castle tower in Japan
Chidorigafuchi in cherry blossom season, with rowboats among the petals
The outer moat, a 5 km loop through the heart of Tokyo
History
founding
The site was originally Edo Castle, built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. When Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo (now Tokyo) the seat of power in 1590, he expanded the castle into the largest fortress in Japan, with multiple rings of moats, enormous stone walls, and a 51-metre-tall central keep.
significance
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the emperor moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace. It has remained the primary residence of the emperor ever since, making the surrounding grounds the symbolic and geographic centre of Japan.
reconstruction
The original castle keep burned down in 1657 (the Great Fire of Meireki) and was never rebuilt; the Tokugawa shoguns decided the money was better spent on rebuilding the city. Most of the current palace buildings date from 1968 (the main palace) and 1993 (rebuilt after WWII damage). The stone walls and moats, however, are original Edo-era construction.
name Origin
Kōkyo (皇居) simply means 'Imperial Residence'. The East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen) occupy the former honmaru (inner citadel) and ninomaru (second compound) of Edo Castle.
Getting There
Tokyo Metro (Multiple Lines)
Station: Otemachi Station
Exit: Exit C13b
Walk: 5 minutes to Otemon Gate (East Gardens entrance)
Most convenient for East Gardens (Marunouchi, Tozai, Chiyoda, Hanzomon, Mita Lines)
JR Lines / Tokyo Station
Station: Tokyo Station
Exit: Marunouchi Central Exit
Walk: 10 minutes walk through Marunouchi to East Gardens or Nijubashi
A pleasant walk through the tree-lined Marunouchi business district
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Station: Nijubashimae Station
Exit: Exit 6
Walk: 5 minutes to Nijubashi photo spot and Kokyo Gaien plaza
Best for the Nijubashi photo opportunity
Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
Station: Hanzomon Station
Exit: Exit 1
Walk: 5 minutes to Hanzomon Gate (south side) or Chidorigafuchi moat
Best for Chidorigafuchi cherry blossom walk
Location
1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8111
Nearest: Otemachi Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi / Tozai / Chiyoda / Hanzomon / Mita Lines) or Nijubashimae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line) (5 minutes from Otemachi to Otemon Gate (East Gardens); 5 minutes from Nijubashimae to the Nijubashi photo spot)
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Imperial Palace & East Gardens