Imperial Palace

The present Imperial Palace is located on the site of the former residential area of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo Period. Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Emperor Meiji moved here from Kyoto. It mainly consists of four areas, the Imperial Residence area, the East Gardens, the Kitanomaru Park and the Garden Plaza. The Garden Plaza above is a spacious green square offering rest and relaxation to driven Tokyoites.

Map

0: Imperial Residence Area

1: Tokyo Station

2: JP Tower KITTE

3: Marunouchi Brick Square

4: Statue of Kusunoki Masashige

5: Nijyubashi (Double Bridge)

6: Wadakura Fountain Park

7: Ohtemon

8: Sannomaru Shozokan

9: Guard House

10: Ninomaru Gardens

11: Inner Citadel Ruins

12: Edo Casttle Ruins

13: National Museum of Modern Art

Crafts

14: National Museum of Modern Art

15: Kitanomaru Garden 16: Science Museum 17: Nippon Budokan 18: Chidorigafuchi 19: Yasukuni Shrine

Imperial Residence Area

Nowadays you can enter a small part of the Imperial Residence area with permission, but it is basically a private area of the Emperor family.Photo A is the Residence build in 1993 and B is its surroundings. As you can tell from the pictures, they are living in a way as small as we are.

C is a part of the Palace named Chowaden Hall built in 1969. On the New Year’s Day and the Emperor’s birthday, the Imperial Family appears on its balcony and the Emperor gives a short address wishing the visitor good health and blessings.

If you want to get the image of the Palace in the Meiji Era, you may as well visit the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace in Tokyo which was originally the Crown Prince's Palace built in 1909.

And to glimpse of the Palace in olden times, there are the Kyoto Imperial Palace built in 14th century and the Katsura Imperial Villa built in 17th century in Kyoto.

Tour around Imperial Palace

Click the picture, and you can get some information on it.

Tokyo Station, a western-style architecture completed in 1914, is one of the few significant examples of early-20th-century architecture left in Japan.

Old site of Japan Central Post Office. KITTE means postal stamp and Kite means come here.

This prime land sandwiched between Tokyo sta. and the Palace used to be the biggest business district in Japan called “London block.” Having a head office here was a proof of the leading company.

He was a loyal follower of the emperor in Kyoto in the late 14th century.

Two bridges, the front stone bridge and the back iron bridge which was originally a double structure wooden one due to the depth of the moat, are hanging over the moat. This is the best spot for photography.

This park was made in commemoration of the marriage of the Emperor today in 1961 and remodeled in commemoration of the marriage of the crown Prince in 1995. The tatsumi-yagura is one of only three remaining keeps.

This is the main gate to the castle. Being constructed in the shape of a cubic container, if the enemy managed to get through the first gate, they would feel they were trapped in a space shut off on all sides.

The Museum of the Imperial Collections, or Sannomaru-Shōzōkan, showcases a changing exhibition of a part of the imperial household treasures.

This is one of guardhouses called bansho. A party of daimyo (feudal load) who went to Edo castle was strictly checked here.

It’s said that this garden was designed for the shogun. You can enjoy various types of flowers throughout the year.

There used to be the government office of the Tokugawa shogunate here. Japan was ruled from this site in the Edo period. But there is nothing today but a vast open space.

A five-story donjon used to stand here which was the highest in Japan, symbolizing the power of the shōgun. Burned down due to the fire from the city in 1657, it was not rebuilt because Japan had already become peaceful and such things were no longer need

This Crafts Gallery, that exhibits textiles, ceramics, lacquer, and other Japanese crafts as well as craft and design from around the world dating from the late 19th century. The building was built in 1910 as the headquarters of the Imperial Guards.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MoMAT) is Japan’s first national art museum. It houses many Japanese masterpieces in various genres from the early 20th century to the present including works from abroad.

Kitanomaru Gardenis located on the northernmost section of the old Edo Castle. It is now a woodland garden with a large pond and well-kept lawns, surrounded by moats, which makes this area a wild bird sanctuary.

This　was established to promote public understanding of science and technology closely related to our daily lives for children to grown-ups. Exhibits are mostly interactives so that you can manipulate and play with them.

Nippon Budokan, or Martial Arts Hall of Japan is an indoor arena originally built for the judo competition in the 1964 Olympics. Its primary purpose is to host martial arts contests but other events such as the Beatles’ concert were held here.

Chidorigafuchi, the biggest moat around the Imperial Palace, is one of the most famous places for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo. The cherry blossoms reflected in the water with Tokyo Tower in the distance are splendid.

Talking about the Yasukuni Shrine is still a controversial topic, but originally the martyrs of the Meiji Restoration were enshrined here. The declaration of flowering in Tokyo is based on cherry blossoms here.

This is a long-range fighter aircraft called “zero fighter”. It was considered the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world when it emerged, combining excellent maneuverability and very long range, so it may be interesting from technical viewpoint.