What to know
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (皇居東御苑, Kōkyo Higashi Gyoen) are part of the inner palace area and open to the public. They occupy the former site of Edo Castle's innermost defenses, the honmaru ("main circle") and ninomaru ("secondary circle"). While none of the main buildings remain, the moats, walls, entrance gates, and several guardhouses have survived.
Edo Castle was the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. Emperor Meiji also lived there from 1868 to 1888 before moving to the newly built Imperial Palace.
A wide lawn and the remaining foundation of the former castle tower sit atop the hill where the innermost buildings once stood. Completed in 1638, it was the tallest castle tower in Japanese history, but it was destroyed by citywide fires in 1657 and never rebuilt.
In place of the former palace buildings in the secondary circle of defense (ninomaru) at the foot of the hill, a lovely Japanese-style garden has been created.
The Otemon entrance to the East Gardens is a short walk from Otemachi Station on the Chiyoda, Tozai, Marunouchi, Hanzomon, and Mita subway lines. It can also be reached in a 10-15 minute walk from Tokyo Station.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 17:00 (March 1 to April 14 and all of September)
- Closed
- Mondays, Fridays, New Year (December 28 to January 3) and some special occasions. If Monday or Friday is a national holiday, the gardens are closed on the following day instead.
- Admission
- Free
- English name
- Imperial Household Agency
- Original name
- Imperial Palace East Gardens
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