traveltowith

Find the Best Activities & Hotels for Families, Couples, and Solo Travelers

About UsContactTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy
© 2025 Traveltowith. All rights reserved.
t
Search...
Japan/Things to Do in Tokyo, couple trip

Imperial Palace East National Gardens (couple trip)

with kidswith babycouple tripsolo trip

How Couple-Friendly is Imperial Palace East National Gardens?

84%Couple-Friendly
View Map

What makes it 84% Couple-Friendly: Couples enjoy cherry-blossom walks, quiet lawns and sunset views from Tenshudai; lack of evening lighting and 17:00 shutdown prevents night strolls or on-site dining, so romance is daytime only.

Google
Reviews4.4/ 5
(from 9,031 reviews)
Introducing the highlights of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. (Tokyo, Japan)
13 min
Start from:
0:00
Introducing the highlights of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. (Tokyo, Japan)
1.1K views • 1 year ago

Positives:

  • Free Entry: Garden entry and all historical sites cost nothing on most days.
  • Central Access: A 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station makes arrival easy.
  • Romantic Backdrops: Cherry blossoms and castle ruins create unique photo scenes.

Challenges:

  • Closed Days: The gardens close every Monday and Friday and on special imperial event days.
  • Limited Amenities: No cafes inside; bring water or buy from vending machines.
  • Seasonal Crowds: Cherry blossom season draws crowds; visit early to avoid them.
Imperial Palace East National Gardens image 1
Imperial Palace East National Gardens image 2
Imperial Palace East National Gardens image 3
Imperial Palace East National Gardens image 4
Imperial Palace East National Gardens image 5
🏖️ Explore Imperial Palace East National Gardens with a local guide: GetYourGuide's 10 BEST Activities and Tours around Imperial Palace East National Gardens. Local guides know the hidden gems you'd otherwise miss, read what other travelers experienced, and book easily.

What is Imperial Palace East National Gardens?

  • A Meiji-era landscaped garden complex that occupies the eastern sector of the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds and incorporates the former Honmaru, Ninomaru and Sannomaru baileys of Edo Castle.
  • Preserves key Edo-period stonework and guardhouses, including the Tenshudai keep platform, interwoven with lawns, ponds, cherry trees and rose beds.
  • Features the Sannomaru Museum of Imperial Collections and historic tea-houses along its winding moat-side paths.

What is so special about Imperial Palace East National Gardens for couple trip?

  1. Free entry to Edo-era castle grounds and gardens.
  2. Hand-in-hand strolls under cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
  3. Panoramic city views from historic castle tower ruins.
  4. Insightful free volunteer-led tours in English.
  5. Unique photo spots like Suwa-no-Chaya tea house.

Recommended visit duration: 3-5 hours

Why 3-5 hours visit duration is ideal for couple trip: This allows time to explore Honmaru, Ninomaru and Sannomaru, visit the museum and catch sunset at Tenshudai.

(View Imperial Palace East National Gardens on Map)

Couple-Friendly Activities in Imperial Palace East National Gardens

Cherry-Blossom Island Stroll:

Walk hand-in-hand under dozens of cherry trees on the spring island.

Tip: Visit in late March or early April from 10:00–11:00 to avoid peak crowds.

Tenshudai Observation Deck:

Climb the stone foundations of the old castle tower for city views.

Tip: Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for clear skyline photos.

Volunteer-Guided History Tour:

Join the free English tours on Wednesday and Saturday to learn Edo Castle history.

Tip: Meet at the main gate 10 minutes before the 11:00 tour.

Sannomaru Museum Visit:

Explore kimonos and Japanese paintings in the Emperor Showa collection.

Tip: Confirm opening days; the museum closes on Mondays and Fridays.

Suwa-no-Chaya Photo Spot:

Frame your photos with the historic 1912 tea-house and bamboo grove.

Tip: Use a wide-angle lens to capture both the house and surrounding greenery.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Imperial Palace East National Gardens

  1. Start at Honmaru: Begin your walk near Otemon Gate to follow a smooth circular route.
  2. Time the Tours: Join the 11:00 guided tour to fill midday with historical insights.
  3. Sunset at Tenshudai: Plan to reach the ruins 30 minutes before sunset for best light.
🏖️ Tour Imperial Palace East National Gardens like a local: GetYourGuide's Top 10 Activities and Tours in Imperial Palace East National Gardens. Local experts uncover hidden treasures you'd never find alone, browse authentic traveler reviews, and book your perfect adventure hassle-free.

Reviews of Imperial Palace East National Gardens

Powered by Google
s vivekananda

s vivekananda

Aug 2025

It is a historical garden in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. The gardens were first used by the Tokugawa shogunate. The garden was built on the grounds of Edo Castle. The building of the modern gardens began in 1961. The garden is over 210,000 square metres. The garden was completed in 1968. Gardens are well maintained and lovely blooms and manicured trees. Popular place, lots of tourists and locals. P...

Doha Cameron

Doha Cameron

Aug 2025

Perfect place for running and walking or just relaxing. Have been there for a quick walk at night and it was crowded with runners which I personally liked. Went early morning for a run and it was packed with walkers and runners and I enjoyed the walk and scenery. Very nice gardens

Angel de Leon

Angel de Leon

Jul 2025

Expect lots of walking especially since we just went to the free entrance after security. Very serene, but lots of tourists. The shops were cute and there are enough bathrooms everywhere. Overall, if you’re looking for a place to just look at nature amidst this concrete jungle - this is it.

G D

G D

Jun 2025

Only the garden around the palace is accessible to the public. It is a very large area, extremely nice to walk around. There are fish in the water surrounding the palace and fruit trees everywhere around the grounds. The whole area is immaculately maintained. On the day of my visit, it was not too crowded thus the long walk was very enjoyable. A bit of a distance from the subway, so prepare for...

Jim C

Jim C

May 2025

There are extensive grounds, that are well maintained, that you can walk through. You could easily spend an hour or two just walking the entire grounds. That being said, there are not a lot of flowers in this garden. Our group was kind of looking forward to seeing some flower gardens, but there were no major ones. There are some benches. There are some rest areas near the bathrooms.

When is the best time to visit Imperial Palace East National Gardens (Tokyo, Japan)?

In spring, stroll under blooming cherry trees. In mid-November, enjoy fiery maples in Ninomaru Grove. Winters are quiet but cold—dress in layers. Check for closures during imperial events.

✈️ Ready to go? Check the latest flight deals to Tokyo on Trip.com

Explore These Activities

Typical Budget for a Couple (2 Adults)

ItemCost (Approx.)
AdmissionJPY 0
Vending machine drinks for twoJPY 400
Total EstimatedJPY 400

Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Content Notice: This content combines editorial expertise with AI assistance to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date information. Our team regularly curates and reviews all content for accuracy and relevance. Help Us Improve

Map of Imperial Palace East National Gardens

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan

Map will load when you scroll here

Scroll down to view the interactive map

Looking for other Things to Do besides Imperial Palace East National Gardens (Tokyo)?

← See other Things to Do in Tokyo (couple trip)

About Imperial Palace East National Gardens

Opening Hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday:9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday:9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday:Closed
Saturday:9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday:9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Hours may vary during holidays, special events, and peak seasons. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.

Website

Official Website

Phone Number

+81 3-3213-2050

10 BEST nearby Activities

Book on GetYourGuide

Explore Popular Things to Do

🇯🇵 Japan, couple trip

Things to Do in Tokyo, couple trip
Tokyo
Things to Do in Osaka, couple trip
Osaka
Things to Do in Kyoto, couple trip
Kyoto
Mount Fuji AreaSapporoHakoneFukuokaNagoya

🇨🇦 Canada, couple trip

Things to Do in Vancouver, couple trip
Vancouver
Things to Do in Toronto, couple trip
Toronto
Things to Do in Montreal, couple trip
Montreal
VictoriaCalgaryQuebec CityOttawa

🇮🇪 Ireland, couple trip

Things to Do in Dublin, couple trip
Dublin
Things to Do in Cork, couple trip
Cork
Things to Do in Galway, couple trip
Galway

🇬🇷 Greece, couple trip

Things to Do in Santorini, couple trip
Santorini
Things to Do in Athens, couple trip
Athens
Things to Do in Heraklion, couple trip
Heraklion

🇦🇹 Austria, couple trip

Things to Do in Vienna, couple trip
Vienna
Things to Do in Salzburg, couple trip
Salzburg
Things to Do in Innsbruck, couple trip
Innsbruck

🇰🇷 South Korea, couple trip

Things to Do in Seoul, couple trip
Seoul
Things to Do in Busan, couple trip
Busan
Things to Do in Jeju, couple trip
Jeju

How You Can Support Us

If our website helps you, please support us by booking your travel needs through this link: Book Flights, Hotels, Activities on Trip.com - New App User Promo up to 10% OFF. We may earn a small affiliate commission - at no extra cost to you!

It's a simple way to help us keep the site running and improving for everyone. Thanks for your support!

10 BEST nearby Activities

Book on GetYourGuide
traveltowith
HomeDestinationsAbout
Tokyo, Japan

searching for