• The Imperial Palace
  • The Imperial Palace
  • The Imperial Palace
  • The Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace

皇居

Description

The palace used to be the castle (the Edo Castle) of the Tokugawa shogunate, but it became the palace for the Imperial family in 1868. It had been called kyujo (the Imperial castle) since 1888, but in 1948, it was renamed to kokyo, the Imperial Palace. Within the Imperial Palace premises, there are 1) gosho, where their Majesties, the emperor and empress, reside; 2) kyuden (the Imperial Hall); and 3) other buildings for the Imperial Household Agency government offices. In one area of the premises is Kokyo Higashi Gyoen (the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace), where the Tokagakudo Concert Hall is. Also, a general visit tour that allows visitors to see the inside of the Imperial Palace site is available. Although you are not allowed to enter the buildings, but you can still look at the palace premises or the government office buildings of the Imperial Household Agency. Other than the buildings, there are many places where you can enjoy nature during the summer. These places within the Imperial Palace site include the Lotus Moat, where you can see large lotus flowers, and Yamashita Street, which is quiet and full of greenery. The general visit tour takes about an hour and 15 minutes, and prior permission is required. For the access to Kikyo-mon (the Kikyo gate), the meeting place for the general visit tour is about a 10-minute walk from Exit No. 6 of the Nijubashi-mae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and the D2 Exit of the Otemachi Station on the Metropolitan Subway Mita Line.

Location Information

  • Address

    1-1, Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111

  • Nearest Station
    Nijubashimae "Marunouchi" Station
    ・ Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
    Exit 6
    10 minutes on foot
  • Phone Number
    03-3213-1111
    Available languages
    only in Japanese
  • Hours
    9:00am - 5:00pm
    *Visitations held twice a day from 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; requires 75 minutes
  • Closed
    None
  • Public Site
    Official Site

Recommended Spots in Area

  • Visiting
  • Eating
  • Shopping
  • Lodgings
※ The above information was correct at the time of updating, but there may be changes to actual prices. Please confirm the current prices when visiting.