Home > Tokyo > Attractions > Must See

Imperial Palace - Tokyo Hotels .com

Imperial Palace, Tokyo

The Imperial Palace is currently the residence of Emperor Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, and his family. Although destroyed many times by fire, the palace was always rebuilt according to its original style. The buildings standing today date from 1855.

While most of the palatial grounds (about 284 acres) are off limits to the public, on two days each year an exception is made: Shogatsu Hatsumode (Japanese New Year) and December 23, the Emperor's birthday. On those two days, the royal family makes an appearance before the gathered masses. For the rest of the year, a one-hour guided tour is the only way to see the palace, and only from the outside in. The brief tour will take you through the emperor's peaceful garden, and the tour guides present interesting details on court life and palace architecture.

URL: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html