The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is large and park-like and is located in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo. It is a complex made up of administrative offices, museums, an archive, some Imperial residences, and the main palace. While in Japan make sure to visit the nearby ancient imperial Japanese city of Kyoto.
If one is thinking of visiting Japan then the Tokyo Imperial Palace is certainly a good place to start. Japan is famous for its architecture and offers many attractions to people visiting the country.
Background Of The Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace is built where old Edo Castle once stood. The massive ancient Edo Castle was once the seat of the Tokogawa shogan. During the heyday of the Edo Castle it was the largest fortress in the world - although little remains of that castle today apart from the moat and the stone walls.
The shogun ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867 (the shogunate was overthrown in 1868). After the shogun was overthrown the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.
In 1888 construction of the new Imperial Palace was completed only to be destroyed in World War Two. It was destroyed by the Allied firebombing of Tokyo on the night of 25 May 1945 and was hit with 2000 pound bombs. The palace was reportedly the target of special Allied mission later on July 29, 1945. It was rebuilt after the war.
- Size: Total Area (Including Gardens) Is 1.15 Sq KM or 0.44 Sq Miles
- Fun Fact: During The Height Of The 1980s Japanese Property Bubble The Grounds Were Valued At More Than The Entire Real Estate of California
Surrounding the palace is Kōkyo-gaien - this is a 115-hectare national garden that includes public spaces, moats, and museums. While visiting the grounds of the palace, feel the peace and tranquility of the manicured gardens.
The Parts Of the Palace Open To The Public
The main ground of the palace is generally closed to the public - except for the Imperial Household Agency and the East Gardens. Although there are reserved guided tours from Tuesdays to Saturdays accessing the Kyūden Totei Plaza.
- Open: Only A Small Park Of The Complex is Open to The Public
Twice a year on New Year and the Emperor's Birthday the public is also permitted to enter through the Nakamon (or inner gate) to the Kyūden Totei Plaza. On these occasions, the Emperor normally gives a short speech to the assembled visitors.
If one would like to visit, one can join one of the free tours by the Imperial Household Agency and see a small part of the inner compound.
The stunning East Gardens are open to the public all year round and one can enter without a guide. This is also where most of the administrative buildings for the palace are situated.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, "[at the Imperial Palace] the successive Empresses have raised silkworms following the precedent set in 1871 by Empress Dowager Shoken, Empress and consort of Emperor Meiji."
Visiting The Imperial Palace
There are limits on capacity and some openings can be reserved online with more than 50% being first come first served. There are two tours - the morning tour and the afternoon tour. One should plan ahead and arrive early as spaces are likely to fill out quickly.
- Walk-In: 300 People Per Tour On A First Come Basis (Reduced To 70 Due To The Pandemic)
- Prior Registration: 200 People Per Tour (Reduced To 50 Due To The Pandemic)
- Morning Tour: Starts At 10 am (Numbered Tickets Distributed At 9 am)
- Afternoon tour: Starts At 1:30 pm (Numbered Tickets Distributed At 9 am)
- Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
To go on the tour, one must bring a valid form of ID - like a driver's license, passport, or residence card. Numbered tickets are given out one hour before the tour and one will need to fill out an application form. If one applies online, one can fill it out online too.
If one would like to apply online, then applications are accepted from 5.00 am on the first day of the month preceding the tour date. If one can't apply online as there is no vacancy, call (+81-(0)3-5223-8071) and make a telephone application.
- Distance: The Tour Route Is About 2.2 KM or 1.3 Miles
On this route, one will enter at the Kikyo-mon gate and visit a number of attractions including the East courtyard of the Imperial Palace, the Seimon-tetsubashi bridge, and Fujimi Yagura.
- Turning Back: Visitors Are Generally Forbidden To Turn Back Midway Through the Tour
- Pets: Pets are Prohibited
- Closed: There Are No Tours On Sundays, Monday, National Holidays, Between December 28 and January 4, and Afternoons from July 21 to August 31