The Imperial Palace［Visit Guide］ (2024)

FAQs

Is the Imperial Palace guided tour worth it? ›

If you book a tour, don't expect to see the interior of the palace buildings; you'll mostly see the inner gardens and hear more about the history of the palace from your guide. For some past visitors, the tour wasn't worth the time, though they do applaud the knowledgeable guides.

Tours of the palace run daily at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m, and take approximately 1 hour.

Admission is free. Visiting the palace requires joining a Japanese guided tour. Audio guide (English, Chinese, French, Korean, and Spanish) is available free of charge. Visitors must be 18 years old or older.

I've visited both of them. I was impressed with the interior of the Kyoto Imperial Palace whilst the exterior of the Tokyo Imperial Palace is a bit more impressionable. However, in Kyoto, there are so many more beautiful traditional places as compared to Tokyo.

Japan's Imperial Palaces in Tokyo and Kyoto are steeped in history and popular places to visit thanks to their magnificent architecture, beautiful gardens and expansive walled grounds with trees, moats, ponds, bridges, and more.

You can enter anytime during the opening hours. However, if you've booked an online ticket, follow the time mentioned on it. How much time does it take to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid? Two hours is enough to visit and explore the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Visiting the Tokyo Imperial Palace

You can call by the site of the Imperial Palace any time –its perimeter is a popular jogging route and the East Gardens are open to the public year-round. However, to make the most of your visit and get a good historical overview, put on some comfortable shoes and take a walking tour.

It is said that the circumference of the Imperial Palace is about 5 km. If you run from the hotel, the distance will be about 6.6 km. You can see various views from different places and enjoy the city of Tokyo while running.

Tokyo Imperial Palace tours are free but require registration, either in advance online or on the day. Currently, only 120 guests are accepted each day (previously 500), with 70 spaces available for on-the-day registration (previously 300), with reccommendations to arrive early if you can.

Nijō Castle is an enchanting experience! The intricate fusuma paintings depicting historical scenes are a true highlight, evoking a sense of Japan's rich heritage. While the crowds can be overwhelming at times, the beauty of the castle and its lush gardens make it worth it.

Does the emperor live in the Imperial Palace? ›

The Imperial Palace has served as the residential place of the successive Emperors since 1868. It contains the Imperial Residence and the Imperial Palace Complex, where His Majesty the Emperor undertakes official duties. Various ceremonies and public activities are held there too.

Located in Miri, 1.9 km from Bintang Plaza, Imperial Palace Hotel provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness centre and a restaurant.

The gardens unfortunately were a bit drab - hues of browns and greens but the history of the Palace area was interesting. Definitely worth going. The visit is free and could be done in less than an hour. Closed Mondays and Fridays - a trap we were caught by!

Touring the palace

Tours (lasting around 1¼ hours) run at 10am and 1.30pm usually on Tuesday to Saturday, but not on public holidays or mornings from late July through to the end of August. They're also not held at all from 28 December to 4 January or when Imperial Court functions are scheduled.

So, if you're looking to experience the rich history and culture of Kyoto without spending too much, the Kyoto Imperial Palace is definitely worth a visit.

IS THE ROYAL PALACE OF MADRID WORTH A VISIT? Yes, the Royal Palace of Madrid is worth a visit. This magnificent landmark happens to be the largest palace in Europe with 1,450,000 square feet of floor space. A visit to the official royal residence will find that it has the splendor to match its size.

You are able to spend as much time as you like within Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens during opening hours. We recommend around 2-3 hours to complete your visit.