Imperial Palace East Garden and Edo Castle Walking Tour in Tokyo
Description
Embark on a captivating journey through both ancient and modern Tokyo with our Walking Tour of the Imperial Palace. Discover the historic residence of the Shogun, now home to the Emperor of Japan. Delve into the rich history of the Samurai as you stroll through lush gardens adorned with seasonal flowers. Please note, while we won't enter the Imperial Palace, this tour promises a fascinating exploration of its surroundings.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Wadakura Fountain Park, located near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, is a beautifully designed public space known for its tranquil atmosphere and stunning water features. Originally constructed in 1961 to commemorate the royal wedding of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the park was redesigned and reopened in 1995 to celebrate the wedding of the Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako.
Sakurada Tatsumi Yagura is a three-story watchtower located at the southeast corner of the former Edo Castle. It overlooks the moat and was an important part of the castle's defense system, allowing guards to monitor the surrounding area. The present tower dates from the Edo period and was damaged during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. It was carefully restored to its original appearance soon afterward. Today, it remains one of the few surviving watchtowers of Edo Castle, showcasing the castle's impressive military architecture.
Ote-mon Gate is the main entrance to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. During the Edo period, it served as the principal gate of Edo Castle, where only authorized samurai and officials could enter. The massive stone walls and sturdy wooden gate were designed for defense as well as prestige. Today, visitors pass through the same historic entrance to explore the peaceful gardens, offering a glimpse into Japan's feudal past and the legacy of the Tokugawa shoguns.
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo are a serene escape from the city. Once part of Edo Castle, they feature lush gardens, ponds, and historic ruins. Highlights include the Honmaru area with castle remnants and the Ninomaru Garden for traditional Japanese scenery. Visitors can stroll among cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn, immersing themselves in Japan's feudal history and tranquil beauty.
Suwa no Chaya tea house was built by order of Emperor Meiji in 1912, in the Fukiage Gardens in the western part of the Imperial Palace grounds. The teahouse was moved to its current location in 1968. The name Suwa Teahouse refers to the Shinto deity Suwa, to whom there was a small shrine near the teahouse’s original location.
Ninomaru Garden is a traditional Japanese strolling garden located within the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. It was reconstructed in the 1960s based on historical drawings from the reign of the ninth Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Ieshige, preserving the style of the Edo period. The garden features a peaceful pond, seasonal flowers, carefully arranged stones, and elegant trees. It is also home to long-fin koi, an elegant variety of ornamental carp known for their graceful, flowing fins.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: This tour does not go inside the Imperial Palace buildings, as entry is not permitted to the public. The experience includes the Imperial Palace East Gardens and surrounding grounds, with historical insights and great photo opportunities.
Reviews(698)
The Imperial Palace East Garden and Edo Castle walking tour was a great experience. The area was beautiful and full of interesting history, and the tour was well organized and enjoyable from start to finish. We learned a lot while still having plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings and take photos. Our guide, Miyu, was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and she made the experience even better. Definitely a tour I would recommend while visiting Tokyo!
Very informative session with Miwu she’s a beautiful warm person and very informative session.
A wonderful, nice paced tour through the East Gardens of Edo Castle. Mieko was incredible, blending rich knowledge of the history with its connection to modern times. If you’re trying to decide whether to self guide or do the tour, book the tour. The conversation and interaction makes the grounds come alive. The overall length was about 2.5 hours but may vary depending on your pace (we were a little slower at the height of summer heat and with a young one).
Miyu was great and knowledgeable
Great tour! It was an amazing experience with a lot of information about the imperial gardens.
Our guide Ma was outstanding and fun. Great tour.
Miko was very good and answered questions well. She gave a great tour and was very nice to tour with!
Very informative. The guide takes tremendous effort to make the tour enjoyable. Worth every penny spent
Really interesting - our guide was extremely knowledgeable and a clear communicator. Thoroughly recomment it!
What an excellent experience today with Wakana!! From the very first moment we met her at the meeting point we knew it would be a wonderful, lively, and informative tour. She took the time to go into details about the imperial palace; we appreciated her passion! On top of it, today was one of the hottest days in Tokyo this year - she made certain that the group was week looked after with multiple opportunities to get water, trashed breaks, and find shaded areas for her briefings. Thank you, Wakana!
