East Garden of the Imperial Palace（English）

East Garden of the Imperial Palace

The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were created as part of the renovation project of the Imperial Palace grounds. The project was authorised by a cabinet decision in 1960. The Gardens are located in the eastern part of the Imperial Palace grounds and occupy main quarters of the former Edo Castle. The gardens cover 210,000 square meters and have been open to the public since 1 October 1968.

Opening hours

From 1 March to 14 April 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
From 15 April to the end of August 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
From 1 September to the end of September 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
From 1 October to the end of October 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
From 1 November to the end of February 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Last entry: 30 minutes before the closing time

Closures

  • On Mondays and Fridays (except for most of the National Holidays)
  • From 28 December to 3 January
  • In unavoidable circumstances

Entrances

The Ote-mon Gate, Hirakawa-mon Gate and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate.

The Composition of the Gardens

The Gardens offer-opportunities for visitors to appreci- ate a wide variety of trees and flowers in four seasons.

Honmaru Area

The wide expanse of lawn lies at the center of the Hon- maru Area. The remains of the main tower of the Edo castle, gardens of roses, bambooes, cherry blossoms, tea trees, orchards of classical species and others encircle the lawn.

Orchard

At the recommendation of His Majesty the Emperor Emeri- tus some fruit trees of old-fashioned species once popular in Japan until the latter half of the 19th century but now hardly ever seen were planted. They include Japanese pears, peaches, plums, citrus fruit, persimmons and Japanese apples.

Wild Grass Island

A variety of mainly native wild grasses were planted.

Honmaru O-shibafu (Lawn)

Here, in November 2019, H.M. the Emperor held the Daijo- sai enthronement rite (the first harvest festival of the reign).

Rose Garden

Roses were transplanted from the residential quarters of the Imperial Palace following a recommendation by His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus.

Bamboo Garden

Thirteen species of bamboo of Japanese and Chinese origin were re-transplanted based on a recommendation by His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus.

Cherry Blossoms Island

The East Gardens boast more than thirty species of cherry blossoms, half of which can be seen on the island.

Ninomaru Area

This area features a Japanese garden, woodland grove and trees representing Japan's 47 prefectures.

Bairin-zaka (Slope)

The grove features more than fifty plum trees of various kinds.

Ninomaru Grove
New Wooded Area

The grove was created following the suggestion by the Emperor Showa as an area reminiscent of woodlands which had been disappearing in and around Tokyo. The current At the recommendation of His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus the grounds were re-designed so that a brook ran through the grove, which was enlarged in 2002.

Ninomaru Garden

The Ninomaru Garden is a garden based on a 18th century garden map. A pond can be found today in nearly the same position as the original garden attributed to Kobori Enshu.

Iris Garden

84 species of irises have been introduced from the famous Iris garden in Meiji Jingu.

Sannomaru Area

This area features the Sannomaru Shozokan (The Museum of the Imperial Collections) and a resting place.

San-no-maru Sho-zo-kan

The collection of art pieces owned and inherited by the Impe- rial Family was donated to the Japanese government in 1989 The collection is displayed in turn on various themes.

Guide map

  • 1Ote-mon(Gate)
  • 2San-no-maru Sho-zo-kan(The Museum of Imperial Collections)
  • 3Ote Rest House(with kiosk)
  • 4Doshin-bansho(Guardhoude)
  • 5Hyaku-nin-bansho(Guardhouse)
  • 6Honmaru Entrance
  • 7O-bansho(Guardhouse)
  • 8Fujimi-yagura(Mt.Fuji-view keep)
  • 9Chu-jaku-mon(Gate)
  • 10Orchard
  • 11Wild Grass Island
  • 12Honmaru O-shibafu(Lawn)
  • 13Site of the Matsu-no-o-roka(Corridor)
  • 14Tea Garden
  • 15Fujimi-tamon Defence House
  • 16Rose Garden
  • 17Ishi-muro(Stone Cellar)
  • 18Cherry Blossom Island
  • 19Bamboo Garden
  • 20Tenshu-dai(Base of the main tower)
  • 21Kita-hane-bashi-mon(Gate)
  • 22Toka-gakudo(Concert Hall)
  • 23Site of the O-oku
  • 24Honmaru Rest House(with kiosk)
  • 25Observation Point
  • 26Shiomi-zaka(Slope)
  • 27Music Department Building
  • 28Archives and Mausolea Department
  • 29Bairin-zaka(Slope)
  • 30Hirakawa-mon(Gate)
  • 31Ninomaru Rest House
  • 32Ninomaru Grove
  • 33Symbolic Prefectural Trees
  • 34Suwa-no-cha-ya
  • 35Ninomaru Garden
  • 36Iris Garden
  • 37New Wooded Area