What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Pretty and serene, especially during this time of fall, leading into the winter season. They rarely open up the road, so it was a lucky circumstance that will be forever memorable if you visit. As you meander through the grounds, one can't help but notice how beautifully taken care of the property is. Many varieties of trees to peruse and take pictures of and with. When I visited, the trees had already taken their fall appearance. The colors were just breathtaking. The tour is a self guided one with a one-way walking direction. It takes about 40 minutes to just walk the circuit, but of course, with all the places to take pictures of, expect to be there longer. Gates open up at 9 am. It will get crowded so get there early to line up, maybe about 8:30 for the best morning light and experience.
It's very nice for the government to share this beautiful garden with visitors. It was very well maintained and up keep. There is no entrance fee. We only need to pass simple security inspection. One can easily spend 2 to 3 hours in this historical garden.
This garden is quite spacious with many of the points of interests a decent distance apart from each other. This is ideal for a long and relaxing wander. The water in the moat is somewhat murky, so I couldn't capture a desirable reflection.
Even though we went during October, many of the scenery looked fairly similar, there were still a few flowers standing strong alone.
There does not seem to be an open entrance to the Imperial Palace - we notice many of roadways were armed with police. Be sure to collect a stamp at the shop before you leave
Beautiful palace gardens that are easily accessed by metro. Different points of interest in the gardens are well explained on the signs in both English and Japanese. A good variety of evergreen and deciduous trees made the gardens stunning to behold in the fall. Not much of a crowd on Saturday morning when we visited so it was a tranquil and pleasant experience. Highly recommend for a morning excursion if you are visiting Tokyo.
The castle complex is large and extensive. Perhaps a little too extensive with a little too many empty spaces (huge areas that are only covered with gravel). Unfortunately, all that remains of the old castle is the platform on which it stood. On the other hand, there are always opportunities to refresh yourself, buy souvenirs, collect information about the castle complex or stamps. The Imperial Palace is quite beautiful to look at from afar, but if you want to take part in a guided tour, you have to be there early because places fill up quickly.
Not a must-see when visiting Tokyo and not comparable to other castles (e.g. Osaka or Kanazawa), but if you want some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can enjoy a little peace and quiet here (despite the not insignificant number of tourists on site).
