Visiting the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Hello, travelers. This is Kumi. A lot of visitors to Tokyo wish to visit the Imperial Palace, but some of them are not really sure where to go and what to see. So, let me give you some idea about this area.
You could consider the following four choices depending on the day of your visit and the time you have.
1) Sakuradamon & Nijubashi area (10-30 min)
2) East Gardens (approx. 90-120 min, *closed on Mondays and Fridays)
a) Guided tour to the limited area (75 min)
b) Guided tour in the East Gardens (90 min)
Let me tell you the details,
1) Sakuradamon & Nijubashi area
If your schedule is very tight, you could take the Yurakucho Line (subway) to Sakuradamon station and go to exit 3, you can see this traditional gate.
The contrast of modern Tokyo and old Tokyo is very unique.
If you're satisfied with this quick peep, you could go back to the station and take the subway to your next destination. If you just see the gate and go back, it probably takes 5-10 minutes unless you're an enthusiastic photographer.
If you have a bit more time, please go through the two gates.
And you can find this Stone Bridge. A lot of people call this "Nijubashi" by mistake, but the true Nijubashi is the one behind this bridge. Anyway, this is one of the most famous photo spots of the Imperial Palace. This area is called "Nijubashi area."
You could go back to Sakuradamon station, or you could walk to Hibiya station. Hibiya may be more useful to go to your next destination as it has the Chiyoda Line and the Hibiya Line.
2) East Gardens (closed on Mondays and Fridays)
If you're very interested in history, you should choose the Imperial Palace East Gardens. You could walk from Tokyo station, but I'd recommend Otemachi station because you'll end up walking very much in the garden. The closest exit is C13a.
At the Otemon gate, your bags will be inspected.
As for the sightseeing route, please check out the map on the official page. Let me tell you the places with the numbers on the map.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/shisetsu/higashigyoen-map.html
*You could read the information signs on the spots or you could download the app in advance and enjoy the audio guide.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/app.html
Otemon gate is close to #30. This used to be the first checkpoint. You could check out #29, Sannomaru Shozokan (The Museum of the Imperial Collections).
#13 Doshin-bansho (Guardhouse)
#14 Hyaku-nin-bansho (Guardhouse)
#11 O-bansho (Guardhouse)
#1 Fujimi-yagura (Fuji-viewing tower)
#16 Tenshu-dai (Base of the main tower)
This is the view from Tenshu-dai.
After the Tenshu-dai, you could go out of Hirakawa-mon.
Or you could walk down #15 Shiomi-zaka (Slope), enjoying the view of Hakucho-bori (Moat).
And visit #25 Ninomaru Garden.
By the time you arrived at Ninomaru Garden, you may have walked for 2 hours or so, and you're still in the garden! So you need to walk either to Takebashi station from Hirakawa-mon or Otemachi station from Ote-mon. So please make sure to have enough time when you visit the East Gardens.
a) Guided tour to the limited area (free)
You could sign up in advance or wait in the line on the day for the guided tour.
http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/about/koukyo.html
The tour is for 75 minutes, held both in Japanese and in English daily at 10:00 and 13:30 except on Sundays and Mondays. You need to bring your ID to join this tour.
b) Guided tour in the East Gardens (free)
11:00 and 14:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The tour starts at #28 Ote resting place. You can casually join this tour and drop out anytime. It usually lasts 60-90 minutes.
Did you find the best plan which fits your schedule? Please enjoy the time traveling to the 17-19th century!
*Please feel free to comment below with other experiences or information! Also, if you find any errors in content or grammar, please let me know.
1) Sakuradamon & Nijubashi area (10-30 min)
2) East Gardens (approx. 90-120 min, *closed on Mondays and Fridays)
a) Guided tour to the limited area (75 min)
b) Guided tour in the East Gardens (90 min)
Let me tell you the details,
1) Sakuradamon & Nijubashi area
If your schedule is very tight, you could take the Yurakucho Line (subway) to Sakuradamon station and go to exit 3, you can see this traditional gate.
The contrast of modern Tokyo and old Tokyo is very unique.
If you're satisfied with this quick peep, you could go back to the station and take the subway to your next destination. If you just see the gate and go back, it probably takes 5-10 minutes unless you're an enthusiastic photographer.
If you have a bit more time, please go through the two gates.
And you can find this Stone Bridge. A lot of people call this "Nijubashi" by mistake, but the true Nijubashi is the one behind this bridge. Anyway, this is one of the most famous photo spots of the Imperial Palace. This area is called "Nijubashi area."
You could go back to Sakuradamon station, or you could walk to Hibiya station. Hibiya may be more useful to go to your next destination as it has the Chiyoda Line and the Hibiya Line.
2) East Gardens (closed on Mondays and Fridays)
If you're very interested in history, you should choose the Imperial Palace East Gardens. You could walk from Tokyo station, but I'd recommend Otemachi station because you'll end up walking very much in the garden. The closest exit is C13a.
At the Otemon gate, your bags will be inspected.
As for the sightseeing route, please check out the map on the official page. Let me tell you the places with the numbers on the map.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/shisetsu/higashigyoen-map.html
*You could read the information signs on the spots or you could download the app in advance and enjoy the audio guide.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/app.html
Otemon gate is close to #30. This used to be the first checkpoint. You could check out #29, Sannomaru Shozokan (The Museum of the Imperial Collections).
#13 Doshin-bansho (Guardhouse)
#14 Hyaku-nin-bansho (Guardhouse)
#11 O-bansho (Guardhouse)
#1 Fujimi-yagura (Fuji-viewing tower)
#6 Fujimi-tamon Defence house
You can go inside.
#16 Tenshu-dai (Base of the main tower)
This is the view from Tenshu-dai.
After the Tenshu-dai, you could go out of Hirakawa-mon.
Or you could walk down #15 Shiomi-zaka (Slope), enjoying the view of Hakucho-bori (Moat).
And visit #25 Ninomaru Garden.
By the time you arrived at Ninomaru Garden, you may have walked for 2 hours or so, and you're still in the garden! So you need to walk either to Takebashi station from Hirakawa-mon or Otemachi station from Ote-mon. So please make sure to have enough time when you visit the East Gardens.
a) Guided tour to the limited area (free)
You could sign up in advance or wait in the line on the day for the guided tour.
http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/about/koukyo.html
The tour is for 75 minutes, held both in Japanese and in English daily at 10:00 and 13:30 except on Sundays and Mondays. You need to bring your ID to join this tour.
b) Guided tour in the East Gardens (free)
11:00 and 14:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The tour starts at #28 Ote resting place. You can casually join this tour and drop out anytime. It usually lasts 60-90 minutes.
Did you find the best plan which fits your schedule? Please enjoy the time traveling to the 17-19th century!
*Please feel free to comment below with other experiences or information! Also, if you find any errors in content or grammar, please let me know.
