Tokyo, Japan · Official Guided Tours
Step inside the heart of Tokyo with an expert English-speaking guide. Explore the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace — the former grounds of Edo Castle — and uncover 2,600 years of Japanese imperial and shogun history. All visits and gardens are free to enter; your guide brings it all to life.
FREE CANCELLATION on all tours — cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later.
Best Reviewed Imperial Palace Tours 2026
Hand-picked from 13+ available tours — ranked by rating, review count, and value for money. All include expert English-speaking guides and free cancellation.
TOP RATED
Walk through the Imperial Palace East Gardens with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide as they unpack 2,600 years of imperial history — from the Edo Castle shogunate to today's imperial residence. A relaxed, small-group walking tour with a max of 15 guests. Badge of Excellence. 99% recommended.
PRIVATE TOUR
An entirely private walking tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens — only your group, your guide, and the history of Edo Castle and the imperial seat. Covers Ote-mon Gate, the Hyakunin Bansho Guardhouse, Fujimi-yagura Keep, and Ninomaru Garden at your own pace. Cooling towels included on daytime tours. Supplied by Gotcha Tours.
BEST VALUE
The longest of the dedicated Imperial Palace walking tours at 2.5 hours — covers Wadakura Fountain Park and the full East Gardens including the Edo Castle Ruin and Ninomaru Garden. Snacks and all fees included. A wheelchair-accessible garden tour with a guide who keeps the group small. Badge of Excellence.
FREE CANCELLATION available on all tours listed on this site — cancel up to 24 hours before your tour for a full refund. No hidden charges. Most tours are reserve-now, pay-later.
Imperial Palace Tours — All Options
From budget walking tours at $16 to full-day private guided Tokyo tours — every option below includes the Imperial Palace as a key stop.
BEST PRICE
Discover 2,600 years of Japanese history from Sakurada Yagura to Ninomaru Garden. Covers 9 landmarks including all three Edo-period guardhouses. Guide from Local Guide Stars. Badge of Excellence. 99% recommended.
BEST SELLER
A fully private, fully customizable Tokyo tour visiting your choice of landmarks — including the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, Shibuya Crossing, and more. Your guide edits photos throughout as a souvenir. Hotel pickup available. Badge of Excellence.
FULL DAY
Cover Tokyo's most iconic landmarks in a single guided day — Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Skytree. Train tickets between all sites included. Optional lunch and Skytree tickets add-on available. Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
PRIVATE TOUR
Choose your own 2–3 landmark itinerary from a curated list — including the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, Shibuya Crossing, and Shinjuku Gyoen — led by an official government-licensed English-speaking guide. Fully private. Hotel pickup on foot. By Japan Guide Agency. Badge of Excellence.
BIKE TOUR
See Tokyo's highlights — including the Imperial Palace grounds, Zojo-ji Temple, and Shibuya Crossing — by bike or e-bike on a private guided tour. Cover far more ground than a walking tour in the same time. Badge of Excellence. 99% recommended.
PRIVATE TOUR
A full half-day of Tokyo on a fully private, customizable itinerary with an official government-licensed guide. Includes the Imperial Palace and whichever other landmarks you choose from the extended list. Pickup available. Hotel drop-off. By Japan Guide Agency.
PRIVATE CAR
A full-day private tour with hotel pickup, air-conditioned vehicle, Wi-Fi on board, and bottled water. Your driver takes you to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Senso-ji, Ueno Park, Tsukiji, Shibuya, and anywhere else on your list. Badge of Excellence. 99% recommended.
PRIVATE TOUR
A flexible private walking tour built around your interests — from the Imperial Palace to any other corner of Tokyo. You choose the duration (2 to 8 hours), your guide handles the rest. Hotel pickup available. 100% recommended. Badge of Excellence.
VIP TOUR
The premium Tokyo private tour — a licensed guide plus private minivan with hotel pickup, DVD player, and a full day visiting the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, Tsukiji, Shibuya, and more. Available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. 100% recommended. Badge of Excellence.
BUS TOUR
Tokyo's most-reviewed one-day tour — pass by the Imperial Palace on a deluxe coach with an English-speaking guide, then visit Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Tokyo Skytree (admission included). Matcha experience, Izakaya lunch, and Tokyo Bay cruise included. Wi-Fi on the bus. Pickup from Shinjuku or Ginza.
Find the Right Tour for You
All 13 tours at a glance — sorted by review count. Use the "Best For" column to find your match.
| Tour | Duration | Type | Rating | Reviews | Price | Best For | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour incl. Imperial Palace | 9–10 hrs | Coach group | 4.9 ★ | 15,957 | From $123 | First-timers wanting maximum Tokyo coverage in one day | Book |
| Imperial Palace & Shogun Historical Walking Tour ⭐ Top Pick | 2 hrs | Small group (max 15) | 4.9 ★ | 2,922 | From $22 | History enthusiasts who want deep context in a small group | Book |
| Tokyo Customized Private Tour (Must-See in 1 Day) | 2–8 hrs | Private, flexible | 5.0 ★ | 2,172 | From $139 | Travellers who want a fully tailored Tokyo day with photo editing | Book |
| Tokyo 6-Hour Private Tour, Government-Licensed Guide | 6 hrs | Private, customizable | 4.9 ★ | 4,513 | From $139 | Families or couples who want a full day with an official licensed guide | Book |
| Tokyo 4-Hour Private Tour, Government-Licensed Guide | 4 hrs | Private, customizable | 4.9 ★ | 1,614 | From $104 | Time-pressed visitors who want a private licensed guide for a half-day | Book |
| Edo Castle & Imperial Palace Shogun Walking Tour | 2 hrs | Small group (max 60) | 4.9 ★ | 1,291 | From $16 | Budget-conscious visitors wanting a structured tour at the lowest price | Book |
| Private & Customisable Tokyo Car Tour, English Driver | 9 hrs | Private car | 4.9 ★ | 488 | From $270 | Those who want comfort, hotel pickup, and zero public transport | Book |
| Imperial Palace East Garden & Edo Castle Walking Tour | 2.5 hrs | Small group | 4.9 ★ | 671 | From $35 | Wheelchair users and families wanting the longest dedicated garden tour | Book |
| Tokyo 3-Hour Bike / E-Bike Tour of City Highlights | 3 hrs | Private bike/e-bike | 4.9 ★ | 528 | From $60 | Active travellers who want to cover more ground than a walking tour | Book |
| Imperial Palace East Gardens & Edo Castle Private Tour | 2 hrs | Private only | 4.9 ★ | 158 | From $35 | Couples or small families wanting a dedicated private palace garden tour | Book |
| Full Tokyo Day Tour: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree | 7 hrs | Small group | 4.9 ★ | 109 | From $40 | First-time Tokyo visitors wanting guided coverage of 5+ landmarks in one day | Book |
| Tokyo Private Customized Walking Tour with Local Guide | 2–8 hrs | Private walking | 5.0 ★ | 91 | From $45 | Solo travellers and couples who want a flexible private walking guide | Book |
| Tokyo Highlights Private Custom Tour, Licensed Guide & Driver | 8 hrs | Private car + guide | 5.0 ★ | 60 | From $505 | VIP travellers wanting a multilingual licensed guide plus private vehicle | Book |
The Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo stands on the former grounds of Edo Castle — once the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years. When Emperor Meiji moved the imperial capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1868, the castle grounds became the imperial residence, a role they still hold today.
Edo Castle was constructed in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan, a samurai lord, on a strategic hilltop above Tokyo Bay. Under the Tokugawa shoguns from 1603 onward, it became the largest castle complex in the world. The main keep — the Tenshukaku — was destroyed by fire in 1657 and never rebuilt; its stone foundation still stands in the East Garden, one of the most resonant sites on the grounds.
After the Meiji Restoration, the Kyuden (main palace) was built in 1888, destroyed in the Allied air raids of 1945, and replaced by the current structure in 1968. The grounds cover approximately 3.41 square kilometres of central Tokyo — a green oasis encircled by moats, pine trees, and the stone walls of Edo Castle.
The East Gardens (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) are the primary public area — free to enter, no booking required, open Tuesday through Sunday. Inside: the ruins of the Tenshukaku Donjon, the Ninomaru Garden, three original Edo-period guardhouses (Doshin-bansho, Hyakunin-bansho, and O-bansho), and the Tokagakudo Concert Hall built in 1966. The surrounding moat and outer gardens — including Chidorigafuchi, especially spectacular during cherry blossom season — are open year-round.
The Imperial Household Agency runs a separate free guided tour of the inner palace grounds twice daily (Tuesday to Saturday, advance reservation required). This 75-minute walk takes you past the Kyuden exterior and administrative buildings, though no interior access is permitted.
For visitors who want context and commentary, a guided tour of the East Gardens — starting from $16 — provides far more depth than exploring alone. Your guide will decode the guardhouse layout, explain the shogun-to-emperor transition, and point out the photo spots that most visitors walk straight past.
Read the Full History →
Visitor Information
The Imperial Palace is 10–15 minutes on foot from Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Central Exit). The nearest metro is Nijubashi-mae Station (Chiyoda Line, Exit 6) or Otemachi Station (Mita Line, Exit D2) — both about 10 minutes' walk to the East Garden's main Ote-mon Gate.
| Mar 1–Apr 14 | 9:00–17:00 |
| Apr 15–Aug 31 | 9:00–18:00 |
| Sep 1–Sep 30 | 9:00–17:00 |
| Oct 1–Oct 31 | 9:00–16:30 |
| Nov–Feb | 9:00–16:00 |
Closed: Mondays, Fridays, Dec 28–Jan 3, and occasional Imperial Court closure days. Admission closes 30 minutes before garden closing time.
Verified Visitor Reviews
What guests are saying about Imperial Palace Tokyo tours — based on verified bookings across Viator and TripAdvisor.
"Our guide Christian was incredibly knowledgeable — he took my teenage kids through the full Edo Castle and shogun story and kept them engaged the whole way. One of the highlights of our Tokyo trip."
"Embla was an exceptional guide. She connected the history of Japan's imperial family to the modern day in a way that genuinely changed how I thought about the country. Perfect pace, perfect timing."
"The private tour was worth every yen. Having only our family with the guide meant we could ask anything, go at our own pace, and really absorb what we were seeing at the Ninomaru Garden and the castle ruins."
Common Questions
Guided Imperial Palace tours start from $16 per person for a 2-hour small-group walking tour. Private tours of the East Gardens start from $35. Full-day Tokyo tours that include the palace start from $40. The East Gardens themselves are free to enter — no admission ticket needed.
Yes — particularly for spring cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and autumn. Popular tours book up 48–72 hours ahead. The official free guided tour of the inner palace grounds requires advance registration via the Imperial Household Agency website.
Yes — the East Gardens are completely free, no ticket required. The official inner-grounds guided tour is also free but requires registration. Third-party guided tours of the gardens and surrounding area charge a guide fee, starting from $16 per person.
The East Garden is closed on Mondays and Fridays (or the following weekday if those fall on a national holiday), plus December 28 to January 3 and occasional special closure days for Imperial Court events. Plan your Tokyo itinerary accordingly — many visitors are caught out by the Friday closure.
The inner palace buildings where the Emperor and Imperial Family reside are not open to the public. The East Gardens and surrounding grounds are freely accessible. The Imperial Household Agency's guided tour covers the inner grounds (exterior only) — apply online at sankan.kunaicho.go.jp.
Dedicated walking tours of the East Gardens and surroundings typically run 2 to 2.5 hours. Half-day private tours covering the palace plus other Tokyo landmarks run 4 hours. Full-day tours run 6–10 hours depending on how many sites you include. Allow at least 2 hours even for a self-guided visit of the East Gardens.
Most guided tours meet at Wadakura Fountain Park (3-1 Kōkyogaien, Chiyoda City) — near the Starbucks, 10 minutes on foot from Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Central Exit, or 10 minutes from Otemachi Station (Exit D2). Your guide will hold a sign with their tour company name.
Several tours — including the Imperial Palace & Shogun Historical Walking Tour and the East Garden & Edo Castle Walking Tour — are listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible. The East Gardens themselves have paved surfaces throughout. Check individual tour listings for accessibility details before booking.
