Tokyo Imperial Palace Tours and Activities

Tokyo Imperial Palace showing a garden
Choose two or more items and save on your trip:
This site was first a shogun residence, then the home for Japan’s emperor. Destroyed in World War II, it was reconstructed to its original splendor.

Tokyo Imperial Palace remains the primary residence of Japan’s Imperial Family. Much like residences for heads of state around the world, the palace buildings and inner gardens are not open to the public. However, twice a year (December 23 and January 2), you can enter the inner palace gardens to see the Imperial Family waving from a balcony.

The ancient name for Tokyo was Edo. From the 1600s to 1867, shoguns ruling Edo occupied this site in central Tokyo, living in Edo Castle. In 1868, when the shogunate was displaced, Japan moved its capital from Kyoto to Tokyo and occupied the Edo Castle site. After fire destroyed much of the complex, they built a new imperial palace in 1888.

Take note of the stone walls and towers and the Nijubashi bridges crossing the moat from outer to inner palace grounds. They are reminiscent of structures on the site hundreds of years ago when moats and ramparts served a critical protective function.

To the east of the residence is the Imperial Palace East Garden, which is open to the public daily, except Mondays and Fridays. The venue offers peaceful green spaces and ponds with a landscaped Japanese garden. Relics from early castle walls are visible. Nearby are the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, the MOMAT Kogeikan Crafts Gallery and the Science Museum.  

Just north of the palace is Kitanomaru Park, a public area that is the site of Nippon Budokan Hall. The Budokan is a world famous martial arts, wrestling and music performance center that has hosted international stars from The Beatles to Taylor Swift. The Yasukuni Shrine is a short walk northwest.

The palace is located in the center of Tokyo on a 1.3-square mile (3.4-square kilometer) site. It is just a few minutes from Tokyo station. Otemachi station is the closest to the East Garden and Kudanshita is closest to Budokan.

Plan a trip to see Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo - Preferred Hotels & Resorts, LVX Collection
ICI HOTEL Asakusabashi
hotel MONday Asakusa
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Holiday & seasonal tours

See all 4 activitiesOpens in new tab

Reviews of Tokyo Imperial Palace

4.2
Top destination
5 - Excellent
144
" "5 - Excellent 41.142857142857146%
4 - Good
142
" "4 - Good 40.57142857142857%
3 - Okay
56
" "3 - Okay 16%
2 - Disappointing
6
" "2 - Disappointing 1.7142857142857142%
1 - Terrible
2
" "1 - Terrible 0.5714285714285714%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
Feb. 11, 2020

Grounds are under significant renovation / repair - some areas under this work are not open to the public.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
May 24, 2019

Palace closed.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
May 7, 2019

You can only see the gardens....j

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller
Apr. 11, 2019

Didn’t allowed to get in, needed passport and specific timing

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
Oct. 30, 2018

Closed on Mondays and Fridays.

5/5 - Excellent

Carmen
Oct. 19, 2018

wear walking shoes !

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Tokyo Imperial Palace

Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo
Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo
4 out of 5
3-10-8 Iidabashi, Chiyoda Ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon
3.5 out of 5
23-1 Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Hotel Monterey Hanzomon
Nest Hotel Tokyo Hanzomon
Nest Hotel Tokyo Hanzomon
3 out of 5
2-18 Hayabusacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Nest Hotel Tokyo Hanzomon
Hotel New Otani Tokyo The Main
Hotel New Otani Tokyo The Main
4.5 out of 5
4-1 Kioi-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hotel New Otani Tokyo The Main
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA
THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA
4 out of 5
1-1-13 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA
Hotel Niwa Tokyo
Hotel Niwa Tokyo
4 out of 5
1-1-16 Kandamisaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Hotel Niwa Tokyo
Hotel New Otani Tokyo Garden Tower
Hotel New Otani Tokyo Garden Tower
4.5 out of 5
4-1 Kioi-Cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Hotel New Otani Tokyo Garden Tower
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Palace Hotel Tokyo
5 out of 5
1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Palace Hotel Tokyo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.