In the very centre of Tokyo, surrounded by the glass towers of Marunouchi and the rush of the financial district, lies a vast island of moats, stone walls, pine forests, and manicured gardens: the Tokyo Imperial Palace, official residence of the Emperor of Japan. This is the site of Edo Castle, once the largest fortress in the world and the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan for 260 years. When the shogunate fell in 1868 and the emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, the castle became the imperial residence — and it has remained the symbolic heart of the nation ever since.

Most of the grounds are the Emperor’s private residence and closed to the public, but two parts are open and free: the beautiful East Gardens, where you walk among the ruins of Edo Castle, and the outer plaza with its famous bridge view. A free guided tour of the inner grounds is also available with advance booking. This guide covers all three.

🗓️ Quick Reference
Address 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
East Gardens Free; closed Mon & Fri
East Gardens hours 9:00–17:00 (shorter in winter; last entry 30 min before)
Inner grounds tour Free, ~75 min, advance booking via Imperial Household Agency
Nearest stations Otemachi, Tokyo, Nijubashimae, Takebashi
Time needed 1.5–2.5 hours

1. The East Gardens (Higashi-Gyoen) — Free

The East Gardens are the highlight for most visitors and entirely free. This was the heart of Edo Castle — the honmaru (main keep) and ninomaru (secondary citadel) — and walking through it reveals the castle’s astonishing former scale.

What to see:

  • Otemon Gate: The grand main entrance, the historic front gate of Edo Castle, rebuilt in the original style.
  • The massive stone walls: Built without mortar by feudal lords in the 1600s, these cyclopean walls are the most impressive surviving part of the castle.
  • Tenshudai (keep foundation): The enormous stone base where the castle’s main tower once stood. The five-storey keep — once the tallest structure in Japan — burned in the great fire of 1657 and was never rebuilt. You can climb the foundation for a view over the lawns.
  • Ninomaru Garden: A traditional Japanese strolling garden with a pond, seasonal flowers, and an iris field that blooms in June.
  • Hundred-guards office (Hyakunin-bansho): A surviving Edo-period guardhouse.

Admission: Free. You receive a token at the gate and return it on exit. Closed Mondays and Fridays.

2. The Outer Plaza & Nijubashi Bridge — Free, Always Open

The southern outer plaza (Kokyo Gaien), a wide expanse of gravel and 2,000 carefully pruned black pines, is open at all times and free. From here you get the postcard view: Nijubashi, the elegant double-arched stone bridge, with the Fushimi Yagura turret rising behind it across the moat. This is the most photographed view of the palace and the backdrop to imperial ceremonies.

You cannot cross Nijubashi or enter the inner grounds here except on the guided tour or on the two annual public open days (January 2 for New Year greetings, and the Emperor’s birthday on February 23), when the public is allowed onto the inner palace plaza to greet the imperial family.

3. The Free Inner Grounds Tour

The Imperial Household Agency runs free guided tours of the inner palace grounds (the parts normally closed) twice on most weekdays. The ~75-minute walking tour passes key buildings and viewpoints not otherwise accessible.

How to book:

  • Reserve online in advance via the Imperial Household Agency website (recommended), or try for same-day spots distributed at the Kikyo-mon gate on a first-come basis.
  • Bring your passport.
  • Tours are in Japanese, but an English audio guide / app is available.
  • Tours don’t run on Sundays, Mondays, public holidays, or afternoons in summer.

The tour does not enter the East Gardens, so combine both for the full picture.

4. Chidorigafuchi Moat — Cherry Blossoms & Boating

On the northwest side of the palace, the Chidorigafuchi moat is one of Tokyo’s most beautiful spots — and in spring, one of its greatest cherry-blossom destinations. A 700-metre walking path runs beneath a tunnel of Yoshino cherry trees arching over the water, and rowboats can be rented to drift among the fallen petals.

This is covered in detail in our Tokyo cherry blossom guide — in full bloom, arrive at dawn to beat the crowds and the multi-hour boat queue. Outside cherry season, it remains a lovely, quieter walk year-round.

Running the Palace Loop

The 5-kilometre loop around the outer moat is Tokyo’s most famous running course. Flat, scenic, traffic-light-free, and exactly 5 km, it draws runners at all hours — especially early morning and after work. There are no traffic signals on the loop and the convention is to run counter-clockwise. It’s a wonderful way to see the palace perimeter if you’re a runner; many hotels in Marunouchi cater to “palace runners.”

Best Times to Visit

  • Morning: The East Gardens open at 9:00; arriving early means cool air, soft light, and few crowds.
  • June: Irises bloom in the Ninomaru Garden.
  • Late March–early April: Chidorigafuchi cherry blossoms (go at dawn).
  • Autumn (Nov): Fine foliage in the gardens and along the moats.
  • Remember: The East Gardens are closed Mondays and Fridays — the single most common mistake visitors make.

Combining Your Visit

The palace sits beside several of central Tokyo’s highlights:

  • Marunouchi & Tokyo Station (5 min): The beautifully restored red-brick Tokyo Station building and upscale Marunouchi shopping/dining.
  • Kitanomaru Park & the Budokan (north): Forested park adjoining the East Gardens.
  • Ginza (15 min walk / one stop): Tokyo’s premier shopping and dining district.

Getting There

  • East Gardens: Otemachi Station (many metro lines) or Tokyo Station Marunouchi exit, ~10 min walk to Otemon Gate.
  • Nijubashi view: Nijubashimae Station (Chiyoda Line) or Tokyo Station, ~10 min walk.
  • Chidorigafuchi: Kudanshita or Hanzomon Station.
  • Inner grounds tour: Meet at Kikyo-mon gate, near Tokyo Station.