The Imperial Palace East Gardens are the part of Tokyo's Imperial Palace grounds that anyone can walk into freely on most days. They occupy the site of the inner citadel of Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns, and today combine massive stone walls, old guardhouses and lawns with a traditional Japanese garden. The emperor's residence itself lies behind moats to the southwest and is not open to casual visitors, but the East Gardens give you a real sense of the castle's scale. Entry is free.
Why visit the Imperial Palace East Gardens
For more than 250 years, Edo Castle was the centre of power in Japan. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 the emperor moved to Tokyo and the castle grounds became the site of the Imperial Palace. The East Gardens were opened to the public in 1968 on the area of the old Honmaru and Ninomaru, the innermost and second rings of the castle.
Few castle buildings survive, but the walls, gates and moats are among the most impressive stonework in Japan, and the gardens are a quiet place for a walk right next to the offices of Marunouchi and Otemachi.
Getting to the Imperial Palace East Gardens by metro
Several stations surround the palace grounds, but for the East Gardens the most convenient is Otemachi. It is served by the Marunouchi, Tozai, Chiyoda and Hanzomon lines and the Toei Mita Line, and the Otemon Gate is a walk of around 5 minutes from the station's western exits.
- Takebashi on the Tozai Line is close to the Hirakawamon and Kitahanebashimon gates on the north side.
- Tokyo Station on the Marunouchi side is about 15 minutes' walk from the Otemon Gate, easy if you arrive by JR or Shinkansen.
- Sakuradamon is best for the Kokyo Gaien plaza and the Sakuradamon gate on the south side, not for the East Gardens.
Entry and opening hours
There is no ticket for the Imperial Palace East Gardens. On entry, you may be asked to pass a short bag check, and you may be given an entry token to return when you leave. The gardens are normally closed on Mondays and Fridays, with some exceptions around holidays, and they close around New Year and for occasional events. Closing time changes through the seasons, and the last entry is earlier than closing. Check the Imperial Household Agency's official website before you go.
The Imperial Household Agency also runs free guided tours of parts of the inner palace grounds that are otherwise closed. These require booking or same-day registration, so check the official website if you are interested.
Best time to visit and how long to spend
Mornings are pleasant and generally less busy. The gardens have seasonal flowers through the year, with plum blossom in late winter, cherry blossom in spring, irises in early summer and autumn colour in late November. Allow an hour to an hour and a half to walk from the Otemon Gate up to the Honmaru and back through the Ninomaru garden. There is limited shade on the open lawns, so take a hat and water in summer.
Highlights of the Imperial Palace East Gardens
Otemon Gate and the guardhouses
The main gate of the old castle leads to a series of guardhouses, including the long Hyakunin-bansho, where groups of samurai once stood watch over the approach.
The Honmaru and the keep foundation
The wide lawn of the Honmaru was the site of the shogun's main palace. At its north end stands the huge stone base of the castle keep, which burned down in the 17th century and was never rebuilt. You can climb up for a view over the grounds.
Fujimi-yagura
One of the few surviving castle towers, this three-storey turret on the Honmaru's southern edge is said to have been used for viewing Mount Fuji.
Ninomaru garden
A traditional strolling garden with a pond, a small waterfall, stone lanterns and the Suwa-no-chaya teahouse. It is the most picturesque part of the East Gardens.
Museum of the Imperial Collections
Near the Otemon Gate, this museum, also called Sannomaru Shozokan, shows art and objects from the imperial collection. Check its current opening arrangements before you go.
Nearby on the same stop
- Kokyo Gaien and Nijubashi: the outer palace plaza and the famous view of the palace bridges, a short walk south.
- Kitanomaru Park: a green park on the north side, home to the Nippon Budokan.
- Chidorigafuchi: a moat walk lined with cherry trees, one of Tokyo's best spring viewing spots.
- Marunouchi: restaurants and shops between the palace and Tokyo Station.
Find more around this part of the city on the Imperial Palace page, or browse the full Tokyo metro map.