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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Place · Marunouchi / Ginza

Imperial Palace East Gardens皇居東御苑

Free gardens on the old castle grounds, a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station; check the closing days before you go.

goadmission: unknownNot field-verified
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Key facts

Time on site
50–70 min
p95 90 min
Price
Free
Hours
unknown
closed Mon, Fri
Best time
unknown
28″ bags
Yes
Marunouchi / Ginza: ok
Getting there
Ōtemachi (subway) or Tokyo Station Marunouchi side, to the Ōte-mon gate
  • Free entry
  • Closed some weekdays: check
  • Works with kids

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 8Avoid moving large bags on trains 07
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
  • Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
  • Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
  • Kanto ↗Suica/PASMO is the default IC card; ICOCA also works.
  • Kanto ↗Tokyo stands on the left side of escalators.
  • Tokyo ↗Avoid moving large bags on trains 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30; rush-hour cars are packed.
Map & directions
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Directions
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Plan

What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there

Weather here, next 7 days

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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

40min

Worthwhile

50min

Typical

70min

p95

90min

Closed on some weekdays; last entry and closing vary by season; not printed until verified.

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop
Ōtemachi (subway) or Tokyo Station Marunouchi side, to the Ōte-mon gate
Exit
—
Ticket
free · official site
Stairs
note: none of note
Shoes
Shoes on.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock
Calm on weekday mornings.
Sensory load
1/5
Exposure
high

Bailouts

  1. heat

    KITTE lobby (AC)

  2. rain

    Tokyo Station Marunouchi concourse

Nearest rescue anchor: A — Tokyo Station Marunouchi concourse

Red lines

  • Bags may be checked at the gate.
More on the groundPrices · Closures · Rules on site · Access and kids · Next door

Tickets and prices

2026 estimate · check the posted board
TicketPriceNote
EntryFreeTake a plastic token at the gate and return it when you leave.
Imperial Palace grounds guided tourFreeSeparate tour of the inner grounds; book online in advance or queue for same-day places (check).

Closed days and closures

WhenStatusWhat it means for you
WeeklyknownClosed on Mondays and Fridays; when a national holiday falls on those days the rules change (check the official calendar).
New Year (28 Dec–3 Jan)knownClosed; the palace opens for the public New Year greeting on 2 January (check).
State eventscheck before you goClosed at short notice for official events.

“Check” means the date moves year to year or is not published far ahead: confirm on the official page for your date.

Rules on site

enforced at the gate or by guards
bags
Bags may be inspected at the Ōte-mon gate.
conduct
No picnics with alcohol, no ball games; stay on the paths in the Ninomaru garden.
drones
Banned; the palace area is a no-fly zone.

Access and kids

wheelchair: cautionstroller: cautionkids: ok
steps
Gravel paths and a steady slope up from Ōte-mon to the former keep base.
wheelchair
Passable with help; the slope to the Honmaru lawn is the hard part.
with kids
Wide lawn on the Honmaru to run on and stone walls to explore; toilets near the gates.

Next door, in walking order

  1. +10′Tokyo Station Marunouchi building — Red-brick façade; KITTE rooftop garden next to it.
  2. +15′Nijūbashi bridge viewpoint — The classic palace view from the outer plaza.
  3. +15′Tokyo Ramen Street — Under Tokyo Station, Yaesu side.
  4. +20′Ginza — Or one stop on the Marunouchi line.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated
Can I see the palace itself?

No, only the East Gardens and the old castle foundations. Guided palace-ground tours need booking with the Imperial Household Agency.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Which days is it closed?

Usually Mondays and Fridays, plus some special days (check the official calendar).

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources