If you followed my last post, you’ll know we spent the morning exploring Tsukiji Outer Market, sampling everything from fresh uni to tamagoyaki. By 11:30am, we were happy, full and in desperate need of a walk before our 2pm reservation for yakiniku in Ginza. So, we decided to go check out the Imperial Palace East Gardens (皇居東御苑). I’d heard it was a massive, green escape right in the middle of Chiyoda, and honestly, we just wanted some fresh air and a chance to reset ourselves. It turned out to be the perfect buffer.
Best part? The Imperial Palace East Gardens are absolutely FREE!
Getting to the Imperial Palace East Gardens
By Subway (Otemachi Station)
Take any of the Chiyoda, Tozai, Marunouchi, Hanzomon, or Mita lines, then use Exit C13a or C13b (C13b has lift access). It’s just a 3–5 minute walk to the Otemon gate.
Opening Hours & Closed Days
A quick heads-up before you visit: the park is closed every Monday and Friday, as well as December 28 to January 3. It can also close on certain dates, so it’s a good idea to check the closure calendar before you go.
Opening hours change slightly throughout the year, but generally run from 9:00am until 4:00–6:00pm, depending on the season. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Entering the Imperial Palace East Gardens via Otemon Gate
The moment you pop out of Otemachi Station, the contrast hits. Skyscrapers behind you, a massive stone moat and white fortress walls in front.
You cross the stone bridge and walk through the heavy-beamed Otemon Gate. Once you are inside, the city noise just… vanishes. You’re now standing on the footprint of Edo Castle, seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate for 250+ years.
Just inside the courtyard, look for the massive bronze Shachihoko—a mythical creature with a tiger’s head and carp’s body. They were placed on castle roofs as talismans against fire (Edo’s constant enemy).
The Samurai Guardhouses of the Imperial Palace East Gardens
As you move deeper into the gardens, you begin ascending toward where the main castle keep (the Honmaru) used to stand. You’ll hit two major checkpoint buildings.
The first is the Doshin-bansho, a small, functional-looking wooden post. This was the first line of defence, where samurai guards inspected visitors entering the inner compound.
Shortly after, you encounter the much longer, more impressive Hyakunin-bansho, which translates to the “Hundred-Man Guardhouse.” This place housed 100 samurai guards at any given time, split between four groups, always ready.
Ninomaru Grove
Shiomizaka — The ‘Sea View’ Slope With No Sea
You continue up the Shiomizaka Slope. There’s a signboard explaining the name means “Slope Overlooking the Sea.” Look east now and you’ll see… an unbroken wall of skyscrapers.
Back in the 1600s, Tokyo Bay stretched right up to this hill. Everything east of here is reclaimed land. Wild.
Honmaru & the Fujimi Yagura
When you reach the top of the slope, the space suddenly opens up. This is the Honmaru, the very heart of the former castle. The wooden tenshu (main keep) burnt down in the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 and was never rebuilt. What’s left is a sweeping lawn and enormous stone foundations that support the compound.
It’s massive. It’s quiet. Great spot for a picnic.
The star turret: The Fujimi Yagura (“Mt. Fuji-viewing Turret”) is the best-preserved structure here. Three storeys, white walls, and it served as the temporary keep after the fire. Historically, the Shogun could actually spot Mt. Fuji (100 km away!) from here. Today? Skyscrapers win.
Tokagakudo Concert Hall & Unexpected Citrus
While walking the paths, we stumbled on an octagonal, mosaic-tiled building. This is the Tokagakudo (Peach Blossom Music Hall), built in 1966 for the 60th birthday of Empress Kojun. It’s a complete stylistic jump from the samurai guardhouses!
Then, we hit the Citrus Grove. I did not expect this! There’s this area where different varieties of citrus are grown, many unique to Japan. We saw trees loaded with large, pale yellow grapefruit and others heavy with vibrant, ripe mandarin oranges. The smell was crisp and citrusy, and seeing the trees full of fruit in the middle of Tokyo was bizarre and brilliant. (Obviously, no picking! The signs make that clear).
Obansho Guardhouse
Outer Moat & Turrets of the Imperial Palace East Gardens
As our yakiniku reservation time approached, we exited the Honmaru and started moving toward the Ginza edge of the grounds.
This path takes you along the outer stone moat and ramparts, where you get that classic picture of traditional pine trees reflecting in the water, framed by the Marunouchi skyline. This is also where you pass the beautiful, white-walled Tatsumi-yagura Turret and the Kikyo-mon Gate, both of which are still used as access points for the inner Imperial Palace (which you need a pre-booked tour to see).
Seimon-tetsumon (Main Iron Gate) at the Imperial Palace
Nijubashi, a Samurai, and the Best 500 Yen We Spent
We left the East Gardens and walked south into Kokyo Gaien National Garden, the sprawling public park that acts as the “outer plaza.”
Here, we ticked off the two final photo-ops:
- The iconic Nijubashi Bridge. Everyone takes this photo. The triple-arched stone bridge actually sits in front of another bridge, creating the illusion of a double bridge. It’s the standard postcard shot.
- The massive bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige. He was a legendary 14th-century samurai known for his loyalty to Emperor Go-Daigo. It’s a dynamic, commanding statue set against the corporate high-rises.
By 1:30pm, yakiniku was imminent, but the walk had woken our appetites. Then we spotted a slick dark-timbered kiosk. Menu highlight? Ice cream.
We ordered the Matcha & Vanilla Twist (500 yen). Flawless. Milky-rich vanilla, grassy-bitter matcha, and the exact creamy pick-me-up we needed. From here, it was a 15-minute stroll to the yakiniku restaurant.
Final Verdict: Worth It?
Imperial Palace East Gardens is not just a park—it’s a museum without walls. You walk past centuries of defence strategy, you see unique architecture, you smell citrus in the winter, and you get to breathe. For zero dollars, it’s one of the best value-for-time experiences in the city.
