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Tokyo Skyline in the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Japan

Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens

Name: Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan
Rating: 4.4

4.4 (200)・Garden・Tourist Attraction・National Park・Park・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens are a beautiful and historic spot in the center of Tokyo. These gardens are open to the public and provide a peaceful escape from the busy city life.

The East Gardens are part of the Imperial Palace, where Japan's emperor lives. The area used to be the main grounds of Edo Castle, which was home to shoguns from the Tokugawa family. Today, you can still see the massive stone walls and gates that have stood for centuries. The gardens cover about 52 acres, offering visitors a lot to explore.

One of the highlights is the Ninomaru Garden, a traditional Japanese landscape garden with a pond and seasonal flowers. There are also remains of old towers and other structures from Edo Castle, giving a glimpse into Japan’s past.

Visitors can enjoy a mix of Japanese and Western-style gardens, along with open lawns and wooded areas. It's a great place for a stroll, with many walking paths winding through the greenery. The gardens are free to enter, making them accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Hours

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday: Closed

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Phone

+81 3-3213-2050

Website

www.kunaicho.go.jp

The area

Address

1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan

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What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens

Before going, visitors should take note of the gates that are open for the public. Google Maps will show several gates to access the gardens but there are only 3 gates that are open for public use, namely Otemon Gate, Hirakawa-mon Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate. We went through Otemon Gate as it was closer to our location, and we found that there's a museum just nearby the gate; however, the guards said that we need to have a reservation to be able to see the collection. We managed to walk through and take photos of the East Gardens in about an hour. I definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting Tokyo.

Claire Bear

Apr 14, 2025

The castle grounds are so beautiful. We especially enjoy walking through the area to get a little more space in a crowded city. In the spring it is lovely because there is so much to see blooming. Lots of early cherry blooms to see if you make it here a little early.

Mary

Apr 3, 2025

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.

Jack Li

Dec 21, 2024

A very spacious garden on imperial grounds so it never feels really crowded despite lots of tourists here. If you come at the right days , you can take numerous photos with cherry blossoms and various other botanicals and trees. It is free entry which is 👍

Leon Su LS

Mar 23, 2025

Very vast and beautiful gardens inside the Imperial Palace complex. Don’t expect to catch many glimpses of the palace but more of the beautiful nature. There are plenty restrooms and even a shop. The variety of interesting trees and plants is worth the visit. But apart of the nature nothing really that outstanding.