The Imperial Palace Place guide

The Imperial Palace, home of the emperor and his family, is one of the most famous Tokyo attractions and should not escape your Tokyo points of interest. This was the site of the original Edo-jō, the castle where the Tokugawa shogunate reigned from. 

The castle as it is now was renovated twice: the first in 1888, and the second after its destruction in World War II (1968). Renovations used the principles of traditional Japanese architecture.

The Imperial Household Agency offers free tours for tourists to see the inner compound, which is otherwise off-limits. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations can be made up to a month in advance via website or phone. That being said, most of the palace grounds’ 114 hectares (282 acres) are not open for visits, except for the two days in the year when the royal family makes an appearance before the crowds – 2nd of January and the Emperor’s birthday. 

Tours at 10am and 1:30pm, Thursdays to Saturdays except public holidays and afternoons from July to August; free.

If you don’t manage to reserve a slot, the Imperial Palace East Garden (Higashi Gyoen) is a good consolation. The 21-hectare (52-acre) grounds are located right next to the Imperial Palace, and are open to the public. 

This wonderful respite in the middle of the city is hardly ever crowded, except when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Visit the Ninomaru, the part of the garden laid out in Japanese style with a pond, stepping stones, and winding paths. Nearby is the Sannomaru Shozokan, with free rotating exhibitions of the imperial family’s art collection.

The East Garden’s highest spot is the Honmaru (inner citadel), where Tokugawa’s main castle once stood as the land’s mightiest. Built in the first half of the 1600s, the massive structure was surrounded by a series of whirling moats and guarded by 29 watchtowers and 38 gates around its 15km (10-mile) perimeter.

Free two-hour guided walking tours are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The meeting point is at the JNTO Tourist Information Center

1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku. www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/higashigyoen02.html

Free admission, Tue-Thurs and Sat-Sun 9am-5pm (to 4.30pm Mar to mid-Apr and Sept-Oct; to 4pm Nov-Feb.) Closed Dec 23 and Dec 28-Jan.