Imperial Palace
皇居
J7 ⌂ 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda £ Tokyo Nijubashi # Imperial Palace: Jan 2, Feb 23; East Garden: 9am–4pm Tue–Thu, Sat, Sun (Mar–mid-Apr, Sep & Oct: to 4:30pm; mid-Apr–Aug: to 5pm) ∑ kunaicho.go.jp
The residence of the emperor of Japan, the Imperial Palace is a modern, working castle at the heart of Tokyo. In a city where everything can feel to be in a permanent state of flux, the palace and its grounds form a green thread of continuity with the capital and Japan’s past.
t The imposing Kyuden, the main building of the Imperial Palace
EXPERIENCE Central Tokyo
t An entrance to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan’s imperial family moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Edo Castle, the former home of the Tokugawa shoguns, was commandeered for the emperor and rechristened the Imperial Palace. None of the main buildings from this period remain today, but the moats, walls, entrance gates, and guardhouses bear testament to this martial past. Most of the palace was destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt in the same style. Popular sights include Nijubashi – two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds – and the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. The grounds feature Japanese- and Western-style gardens and the foundations of the castle’s former keep. Visitors are only able to enter the Imperial Palace on two days each year, but guided tours of the grounds are available throughout the rest of the year at 10am and 1:30pm (registration begins an hour before each tour).
Insider Tip
Poetry at the Palace
A poetry reading called Utakai Hajime is held in the Imperial Palace every New Year’s Day. There is a record of the event having taken place as early as 1267. Today it is attended by the emperor and broadcast live on TV, offering glimpses of the palace.