The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan, set on the site of the old Edo Castle in the middle of the city. The inner palace is mostly closed to the public, but its moats, massive stone walls, gates and gardens are open, and the East Gardens are free to explore on most days.
It is a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station, so it fits easily into a day in Marunouchi or Ginza.
Plan your visit to Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Entry: free
- East Gardens from 9:00; closed Mon and Fri
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
History of Tokyo Imperial Palace
Edo Castle was the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. After the Meiji Restoration, the emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1868 and the castle became the imperial residence.
The Meiji-era palace was destroyed in air raids in 1945. The current palace buildings were completed in the 1960s. Much of the original castle survives as stone walls, moats, guardhouses and the foundations of the main keep in the East Gardens.
Attractions at Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Kokyo Gaien (Outer Garden): the wide plaza of lawns and black pines in front of the palace, open at all times.
- Nijubashi: the classic view of the stone Meganebashi bridge and the iron Nijubashi bridge behind it, with Fushimi Yagura turret.
- East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen): the former inner circles of Edo Castle, with the stone base of the castle keep, guardhouses, a Japanese garden and the Museum of the Imperial Collections.
- Kitanomaru Park: the northern section of the old castle, home to the Nippon Budokan and pleasant moat-side paths.
- Chidorigafuchi: a moat famous for cherry blossoms and rowing boats in early April.
Things to Do at Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Join a free palace grounds tour: the Imperial Household Agency runs guided walks of about 75 minutes inside the inner grounds, usually at 10:00 and 13:30 except Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Book online or register at Kikyomon Gate on the day.
- Explore the East Gardens: climb the keep foundations for a view over the gardens.
- Jog or walk the moat: the 5 km loop around the palace is Tokyo’s favourite running route.
- Attend a public greeting: the inner grounds open on 2 January (New Year) and 23 February (Emperor’s Birthday), when the imperial family appears on a balcony.
Tokyo Imperial Palace – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Kokyo Gaien: free, open at all times
- East Gardens: free; closed on Mondays, Fridays and from 28 December to 3 January
- East Gardens hours: from 9:00, closing between 16:00 (November to February) and 18:00 (mid-April to August); last entry 30 minutes before closing
- Palace grounds tour: free, advance or same-day registration
Check the Imperial Household Agency website for closures and tour times.
How Long to Spend at Tokyo Imperial Palace
Allow 1 to 2 hours for the plaza, Nijubashi and the East Gardens, or half a day if you also join the palace grounds tour and walk to Kitanomaru Park.
How to Get There
- Tokyo Station (JR lines and Shinkansen): about 10 minutes on foot from the Marunouchi exits.
- Otemachi Station (several subway lines): about 5 minutes to the Otemon Gate of the East Gardens.
- Nijubashimae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line): closest to the plaza and Nijubashi.
- Takebashi Station (Tozai Line): for the Hirakawamon and Kitahanebashimon gates.
Flying into Haneda Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your Tokyo hotel.
Eateries Nearby Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Tokyo Station: Ramen Street, Kitchen Street and countless food shops in and around the station.
- Marunouchi Building and Shin-Marunouchi Building: restaurant floors with views toward the palace.
- Palace Hotel Tokyo: upmarket restaurants and a lounge facing the moat.
Other Attractions Nearby Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Kitanomaru Park and the National Museum of Modern Art: a short walk north of the East Gardens.
- Yasukuni Shrine: about 10 minutes beyond Kitanomaru Park.
- Tokyo Station Marunouchi Station Building: the restored 1914 red-brick station.
- Ginza: Tokyo’s upmarket shopping district, about 15 minutes on foot.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Tokyo: Marunouchi and the Tokyo Station area are right next to the palace.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and train route apps.
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the emperor’s residence on the site of Edo Castle, with free gardens, impressive stone walls and a free guided tour of the inner grounds.
From the northern gates it is a short walk to Yasukuni Shrine, and Tokyo Station connects quickly to Senso-ji in Asakusa.
