The Famous Imperial Palace

Tokyo station is the center point of our visit. I felt funny that the big city name is also a station name. Tokyo station is 100 years old and beautiful building. That area is surrounded by businesses and high quality shops, and of course The Imperial Palace.

5 minutes easy walk from Tokyo station leads you to the Imperial palace area. Big green area with wide roads and historical remnants. There are people running and walking on the wide roads…

There is also Nihonbashi Bridge, a big photo spot. The bridge is actually inside of the palace so no one is allowed on the bridge except for special days like New Year.

Then, there comes East Garden of the Imperial Palace. The last time I tried to enter the garden it was after 4.30pm so the admission was closed. 4.30 pm is last entry time, but this time I was around 4.00 pm. even though gardens closing time is 5.00 pm. I wandered around. I enjoyed the scenery very much.

 

The only entrance to the garden is Otemon Gate. Then you go get a free admission ticket-chip, before starting the visit.

Inside of the garden is beautiful, and calm. There are many ancient walls, tea ceremony rooms and a museum.

The best part of it that the garden is full of corners to sit and chill. Even there are people on the grass areas lounging and relaxing.   It is a relaxing place to have a coffee and to read.

Another spot is Sakuradamon Gate. It is a no entry gate. But the gate is close to the surrounding pond and the walls. It is another beautiful photo spot, with side note that, pond is an artificial feature from old times for defense use. Nowadays, it is pleasing the eye, and a nice venue for lantern festival.

The maps of Imperial palace is helpful for the tourists like me, loving to make the check lists. The map suggests 4 spots shown   on map.

The Spots are Nihonbashi Bridge, Sakuradamon Gate, Wadakura Fountain Park, and the Statue of Kusunoki Masashige. I would add Otemon Gate and East Garden to the list. For me, there are 6 spots have to be seen in the Imperial Palace area.

I will go the Imperial Palace again and see the statue and check on the museum on the East Garden, sit on the grass with a nice book and  a good company. Imperial palace is more than a Touristic spot for me.

Cheers,

Ece