Tokyo Imperial Palace

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

4.4 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Park・Historical Place・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Tokyo Imperial Palace, a stunning piece of Japanese heritage, occupies a central position in Tokyo. This vast estate, once the residence of the shogun, became the official home of Japan’s Emperor after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Surrounded by moats and massive stone walls, the palace sits on grounds spanning over 280 acres, reflecting Japan's rich history and tradition.

The palace complex includes several structures: the main palace (Kyūden), the Fukiage Gardens, and various administrative offices. Though the inner grounds are closed to the public, they open on New Year’s Day and the Emperor’s Birthday, allowing rare glimpses into this majestic site.

Nearby, the East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen) are open year-round, offering a serene escape with their meticulously maintained landscapes, historic ruins, and seasonal blooms. The gardens also feature the Edo Castle ruins, adding a historical depth to the visit.

Hours

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 9:00 – 11:15 AM, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 – 11:15 AM, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Thursday: 9:00 – 11:15 AM, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Friday: 9:00 – 11:15 AM, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Saturday: 9:00 – 11:15 AM, 1:30 – 2:45 PM

Sunday: Closed

Phone

+81 3-3213-1111

Website

sankan.kunaicho.go.jp

The area

Address

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

Top ways to experience Tokyo Imperial Palace

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The Imperial Palace and Nihonbashi Tour

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What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Imperial Palace

Free admission. A very large and spacious garden. Very open and so much room for walking. The garden is very well kept! Unfortunately you can't get into the inner garden but it's still a nice to experience. You'll be able to see some of the historic locations and Ruins. We went around 10am, it was not that busy.

Hashim Fakhreddin

Oct 24, 2024

It’s a quiet place, full of greenery, and the palace is beautiful. Entry is restricted to official personnel only, but you can enjoy walking around the entire 2.2-kilometer area. Make sure to stay hydrated.

loorixx adhz

Oct 31, 2024

The park is very nice and worth little walk. We also did the walking tour around the palace. It’s offered twice a day for free and tickets are limited and only available at the attraction. I would not recommend the tour. Time can be better spent around Tokyo ☺️

Tina B.

Sep 18, 2024

A very huge area. Lots to walk and walk. It was a large garden, but when we visited it was not fully in its well maintained state, probably because of the off season. If you have time, you can definitely check out the imperial palace. There are a lot of guided tours available and you can spend a lot of time here if needed. We did the garden tour and basic areas of the palace

Sujay Sreekumar

Aug 31, 2024

Its a nice place to go and relax, have a walk through the gardens it has to offer. The sceneries were beautiful, lots of birds, and trees! Got to visit on our 2nd time in Japan, glad we didn’t miss it this time, awesome thing it’s that is free to go in! Great place to take your family and learn from the history it has to tell. There are reading posts with information telling how it was used back in the day.