Plan Your Trip
Everything you need before you arrive: verified opening hours, how to reach the East Garden by metro or on foot from Tokyo Station, what to bring, what to expect at the gate, and how a guided Imperial Palace tour changes the experience.
The East Garden (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) is the main public area of the Imperial Palace grounds. It opens at 9:00 every day it operates, but closing time shifts with the seasons. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing, so plan your arrival accordingly.
| March 1 β April 14 | 9:00 β 17:00 |
| April 15 β August 31 | 9:00 β 18:00 |
| September | 9:00 β 17:00 |
| October | 9:00 β 16:30 |
| November β February | 9:00 β 16:00 |
Source: Imperial Household Agency (kunaicho.go.jp) β verify before visiting as closures for Imperial Court events are announced without advance notice.
β οΈ Closed Mondays and Fridays. This catches out many Tokyo visitors on short itineraries. If your only free day is a Monday or Friday, plan around this β a guided tour of the outer grounds, moat walk, and Chidorigafuchi is still available on those days.
Additional closure dates: December 28 to January 3 (New Year holidays). The garden may also close on short notice for Imperial Court events β check the official calendar at kunaicho.go.jp before travelling.
The Imperial Palace East Garden is completely free. No ticket is required and there is no booking system for self-guided entry β you simply walk in through one of three gates, subject to a routine security bag check.
The official Imperial Household Agency guided tour of the inner palace grounds is also free, but requires advance registration via sankan.kunaicho.go.jp. Bring valid photo ID β passports, driver's licences, and student cards are accepted; photocopies are not.
Third-party guided tours of the East Gardens and surrounding areas charge a guide fee, starting from $16 per person. These tours do not require any separate admission payment β the gardens remain free to enter.
π‘ Useful Tip: Cherry blossom season (late March to early April) is the busiest period at the Imperial Palace. Arrive before 9:00 for the gate opening if you want the moat walk and East Garden without crowds. Guided tours typically depart by 10:00.
Exit via the Marunouchi Central Exit and follow Gyoko-dori avenue directly toward the palace. Turn right at the end of the avenue to reach the Ote-mon Gate β the main East Garden entrance. This is the most straightforward route and requires no train transfer.
Most third-party walking tours depart from Wadakura Fountain Park (3-1 KΕkyogaien, Chiyoda City) β look for a guide with a sign near the Starbucks Coffee. Both Otemachi Station (Exit D2) and Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Central Exit) are 10 minutes' walk from this meeting point.
π‘ Japan Rail Pass holders: Tokyo Station is fully covered by the JR Pass. The Marunouchi Central Exit puts you on the palace side of the station, a direct 15-minute walk to the garden gate.
β οΈ What you cannot bring: Knives and alcohol are not permitted. Large backpacks slow the security check. Bicycles and private cars are not allowed inside the palace grounds. If touring by coach or group vehicle, contact the Kokyo Gaien National Garden office directly.
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours in the East Garden on a self-guided visit. A guided walking tour typically runs 2 to 2.5 hours including all stops. The official Imperial Household Agency inner-grounds tour runs approximately 75 minutes.
If you plan to combine the East Garden with a walk around the outer moat (Chidorigafuchi is particularly rewarding in cherry blossom season) and the Kitanomaru Park area, allow 3.5 to 4 hours in total.
Time of day: The garden is least crowded at opening (9:00) and between 2:00 and 3:30 pm on weekdays. Avoid arriving in the 90 minutes before closing β some areas begin to fill with departing visitors and the atmosphere is less relaxed.
Season: Spring (late March to early April) for cherry blossoms along Chidorigafuchi moat β visually unmissable but very crowded. Autumn (October to November) for Japanese maple colour inside the garden. Summer afternoons are hot and exposed; the official inner-grounds tour suspends afternoon sessions July 1 through September 30 for this reason.
Day of week: Tuesdays and Thursdays are the quietest days. Avoid Saturdays and Sundays in spring and autumn.
All Imperial Palace tours listed on this site include a local English-speaking guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Tours meet at Wadakura Fountain Park near Tokyo Station and cover the East Gardens, Edo Castle ruins, Ninomaru Garden, and the historic guardhouses.
Advance booking is strongly recommended during spring and autumn peak seasons. Most tours allow booking up to 24 hours before departure, but popular slots fill several days ahead between March and May.
Book an expert-guided Imperial Palace tour with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. From $16 per person.
See All Imperial Palace Tours β