Hotels near Imperial Palace East Gardens

The Tokyo Imperial Palace sits on the site of Edo Castle, the shogun's residence from 1603 to 1867 and once the world's largest castle. The current Imperial Family residence (closed to the public) sits behind the moats; the surrounding East Gardens (Higashi Gyoen) are free and open to all and contain the original castle keep foundation, restored 17th-century gates, and traditional Japanese gardens.

The Honmaru hilltop has the foundations of the former castle keep (destroyed by fire in 1657 and never rebuilt) with elevated views over central Tokyo. The Ote-mon gate from 1606 survived bombing intact. Free guided tours of the inner palace are available 10:00 and 13:30 Monday-Friday (book online). The East Gardens are open daily 09:00-16:30, closed Mondays and Fridays. Allow 2 hours.

Pro Tip: Enter via the Ote-mon gate (closest to Tokyo Station, 10-min walk) and exit via Hirakawa-mon to the north - the path takes you past all the major garden features in one loop. The free 75-minute guided inner tour requires booking 1-7 days ahead via the Imperial Household Agency website.