What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Amazing large space with beautiful plants and trees . We went to the east gardens . Entry is free. It was snowing. A great place to slow down and enjoy nature in the middle of the city. Definitely not one where you should rush through.
Day guides that include Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Frequently Asked Questions
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are special because they occupy the site of the former Edo Castle, the largest castle in Japan's history. They offer a tranquil retreat with beautifully manicured landscapes and a wide variety of plant species that give stunning displays of seasonal flora.
Yes, the Tokyo Imperial Palace is worth visiting. It offers a unique blend of historical significance and natural beauty. Additionally, the Museum of the Imperial Collections located within the grounds showcases a rich collection of Japanese artworks and craft objects.
You can get to the Imperial Palace East Gardens by public transportation. The nearest subway stations are Otemachi, Takebashi, and Tokyo Station.
While you cannot see the main buildings of the Imperial Palace from the East Gardens, you can view remnants of the Edo Castle's defensive structures, including the moats, stone walls, entrance gates, and several guardhouses.
Admission to the Imperial Palace East Gardens is free. Visitors can explore the vast and beautifully maintained gardens, historical structures, and seasonal blooms without any charge.
Gardens were beautiful and the historic buildings were amazing! The self guided audio tour app worked great, would definitely recommend downloading for your visit. Be prepared that security starts pushing people out of the park park about 20 minutes prior to closing.
Loved visiting the Imperial Palace East Garden. It’s a vast and peaceful place, perfect for a relaxing walk. Lots of different trees, nice gardens, koi ponds, and interesting old palace structures like guard houses, cellars, watch-towers, tea house. In case u want to take a break, there are rest areas equipped with vending machines too. The entry to the garden is free! Totally worth visiting... 🍃
Absolutely gorgeous garden! A lot of work has gone into preserving its historical significance and beauty, including preserving original guard barracks and the orchard. Now, the garden serves as a celebration of Japan. They’ve added various sections such as the bamboo garden with different bamboos found across the country and a tree garden with one tree from every province. The landscaping is impressive—they’ve maintained the original walls and moats—and they’ve done their best to make the gardens accessible to all ages.
No fee or ticket needed for entry, just a bag check at the entrances. Reading other reviews, it’s worth noting there is no palace here anymore, nor is the palace really visible. This is just the East Garden adjacent the current Imperial Palace.
By the time my partner and I decided to visit the gardens, we had already walked over 12K steps. We initially thought we could make it into the palace itself, thought we were close enough but it was on the other side and we were quite tired. It wasn’t cherry blossom season yet, but I can imagine how stunning it must be when those blooms are in full swing. There’s a guard at the gate, and they do check your bags, so be prepared. ITS FREE! The gardens offered a peaceful escape right in the heart of Tokyo, serene, beautifully maintained, and a perfect spot to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and looking for a quiet retreat amidst the busy city.
