Why are people making lines to the Imperial Palace
Hello, travelers. This is Kumi. Picturesque Japan Blog tells you what people are doing in and around the Imperial Palace at this cherry blossoms season.
If you happen to be in Tokyo and walk near the Imperial Palace, you may see people making lines like this.
You'll see many Imperial Guards, too.
At the first checkpoint, they inspect the visitors' bags, and then at the next checkpoint, they inspect us with a metal detector.
Is there a special concert held here? No. People are visiting here to enjoy the cherry blossoms along Inui Street which is open to the public for a limited time (March 30 to April 7, 2019). Japan Times' article tells you in detail.
Crowds descend upon Imperial Palace's Inui Street to see cherry blossoms
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/30/national/crowds-descend-upon-imperial-palaces-inui-street-see-cherry-blossoms/#.XKX_J_czaM8
The note tells you what you shouldn't do here.
This is Sakashita-mon (gate).
You can see the Imperial Household Agency's office.
This one below is Fujimi Yagura rebuilt in 1659. After the Edo Castle's donjon was burnt down in 1657, this building was used for shogun (general) to enjoy fireworks etc. "Fujimi" means "seeing Mt. Fuji." It is considered they could see Mt. Fuji from here.
It's about 750 meters (850 yards) from Sakashita-mon to Inui-mon. The Google Map cannot show the route on Inui Street because it's usually closed.
The architecture on the stone walls is Fujimi Tamon. This was a warehouse to store weapons and they could attack intruders from the windows.
There are beautiful cherry trees on both sides of the street.
You could turn right and go into the East Gardens.
Or you could keep walking straight...
to the Inui-mon (gate). This is the end of the special area open to the public for a specific duration.
If you want to continue sightseeing, you could turn right and walk a bit to go into the East Gardens from the Kitahanebashi-mon (gate).
What a beautiful moat!
Once you enter the garden, you'll see the base of the Edo Castle.
There was no one waiting in line when we got there, but it seems a lot of people line up to go up on top of the base on a busy day.
This is the photo from the top (taken on March 12, 2019).
The garden has huge trees!!
You can see the Fujimi Yagura (the one you saw earlier) from the other side.
Some people were picnicking under the cherry trees.
The garden closed at 4:30pm on this day. Please check out the website for the opening hours. It changes depending on the seasons.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html
We came out of the Kitahanebashi-mon. Can you find us in the photo? :P
We walked in Kitanomaru Park.
People were picnicking here too.
Going through the Tayasu-mon.
Walked to Chidorigafuchi, one of the most popular spots in Tokyo to appreciate cherry blossoms.
Just stunning...
You'll see a lot of boats here especially at the cherry blossom season.
After spending some time at a bar, we walked on Yasukuni street.
A lot of people were waiting in line to see the illuminated cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi.
Breathtaking!
Go to the other side.
There were a lot of food stands at Yasukuni Shrine.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2321.html
We enjoyed Okonomiyaki...
under the beautiful trees.
Trash boxes were installed (probably) for this season.
You could go to Kudanshita station to take the Hanzomon Line or the Tozai Line.
Inui Street is open to the public from March 30 to April 7 this year. If you happen to be in Tokyo at this special time, why don't you enjoy this limited offer? The guards let disabled people (or probably seniors?) walk on a shortcut to Sakashita-mon, but others need to walk quite a long distance. In any case, you'll end up walking a lot, so please make sure to wear comfortable shoes. :)
If you happen to be in Tokyo and walk near the Imperial Palace, you may see people making lines like this.
You'll see many Imperial Guards, too.
At the first checkpoint, they inspect the visitors' bags, and then at the next checkpoint, they inspect us with a metal detector.
Is there a special concert held here? No. People are visiting here to enjoy the cherry blossoms along Inui Street which is open to the public for a limited time (March 30 to April 7, 2019). Japan Times' article tells you in detail.
Crowds descend upon Imperial Palace's Inui Street to see cherry blossoms
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/30/national/crowds-descend-upon-imperial-palaces-inui-street-see-cherry-blossoms/#.XKX_J_czaM8
The note tells you what you shouldn't do here.
This is Sakashita-mon (gate).
You can see the Imperial Household Agency's office.
This one below is Fujimi Yagura rebuilt in 1659. After the Edo Castle's donjon was burnt down in 1657, this building was used for shogun (general) to enjoy fireworks etc. "Fujimi" means "seeing Mt. Fuji." It is considered they could see Mt. Fuji from here.
It's about 750 meters (850 yards) from Sakashita-mon to Inui-mon. The Google Map cannot show the route on Inui Street because it's usually closed.
The architecture on the stone walls is Fujimi Tamon. This was a warehouse to store weapons and they could attack intruders from the windows.
There are beautiful cherry trees on both sides of the street.
You could turn right and go into the East Gardens.
Or you could keep walking straight...
to the Inui-mon (gate). This is the end of the special area open to the public for a specific duration.
If you want to continue sightseeing, you could turn right and walk a bit to go into the East Gardens from the Kitahanebashi-mon (gate).
What a beautiful moat!
Once you enter the garden, you'll see the base of the Edo Castle.
There was no one waiting in line when we got there, but it seems a lot of people line up to go up on top of the base on a busy day.
This is the photo from the top (taken on March 12, 2019).
The garden has huge trees!!
You can see the Fujimi Yagura (the one you saw earlier) from the other side.
Some people were picnicking under the cherry trees.
The garden closed at 4:30pm on this day. Please check out the website for the opening hours. It changes depending on the seasons.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html
We came out of the Kitahanebashi-mon. Can you find us in the photo? :P
We walked in Kitanomaru Park.
People were picnicking here too.
Going through the Tayasu-mon.
Walked to Chidorigafuchi, one of the most popular spots in Tokyo to appreciate cherry blossoms.
Just stunning...
You'll see a lot of boats here especially at the cherry blossom season.
After spending some time at a bar, we walked on Yasukuni street.
A lot of people were waiting in line to see the illuminated cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi.
Breathtaking!
Go to the other side.
There were a lot of food stands at Yasukuni Shrine.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2321.html
We enjoyed Okonomiyaki...
under the beautiful trees.
Trash boxes were installed (probably) for this season.
You could go to Kudanshita station to take the Hanzomon Line or the Tozai Line.
Inui Street is open to the public from March 30 to April 7 this year. If you happen to be in Tokyo at this special time, why don't you enjoy this limited offer? The guards let disabled people (or probably seniors?) walk on a shortcut to Sakashita-mon, but others need to walk quite a long distance. In any case, you'll end up walking a lot, so please make sure to wear comfortable shoes. :)
