In Tokyo: The Imperial Palace & the East Gardens

The Imperial Palace is one of the attractions near the Tokyo Station, especially during spring. It’s not listed as one of the best hanami spots in the city for nothing. People would line up for hours just to rent a boat to paddle the length of the Chidorigafuchi Moat lined with hundreds of sakura trees. It’s a heavenly place to be.

Construction of Edo Castle Fortification, First built by Ota Dokan (1432-1486). Became the shgun castle of the Tokugawa family for 15 generations, until the 1st year of the Meiji era, when it became the Imperial Palace

Shimizu-bori Moat. The bridge to the Hiragawa-mon Gate

Kikyo-bori Moat is the closest to Tokyo Station

The other hanami spot in the same compound but with fewer sakura trees is the East Gardens of the palace. Sakura in this place is on my bucket list.

The Ote-mon Gate is closest entrance to the Tokyo Station

The bridge to the Ote-mon gate

Ote-mon gate

But no matter what the season, the place is still worth the visit because of its serenity and yes, its history.

Here’s a bit of its royal past.

Before it came to be the Imperial Palace in the first year of the Meiji Era, it was called the Edo Castle built by Ota Dokan (1432-1486).

It became the seat of the Tokugowa shogun for 15 generations during his rule from 1602 to 1867.

The Tenshudai Donjon Base. The castle tower was the tallest donjon ever built in Japan

When the shogunate was overthrown in 1868 and Japan’s capital and Imperial residence was moved to Tokyo from Kyoto, Emperor Meiji made it his new residence and renamed it to Tokei Castle (Tokyo was also called Tokei then).

It was in 1869 when it was named as the Imperial Palace.

Well supported

Ishimuro Sonte Cellar, said to be an undeground passgae or treasury

If you’re lucky to be in Tokyo on January 2 or December 3, you can enter the inner palace grounds and catch the members of the Imperial Family making their public appearances on the balcony for the New Year’s greeting and Emperor’s birthday, respectively.

For the rest of the year, the inner grounds are not open to the public. However, guided tours are offered around the palace grounds. You can’t enter the building though.

What is open to the public throughout the year is the Kokyo Higashi Gyoen or the , and entrance is free.

Admission ot the East Gardens is free

Directional map of the East Gardens

The 210,000 square-meter garden, which was opened to the public in 1968, is part of the inner palace area and covers much of the Edo Castle’s innermost circles of defense: the Honmaru, the principal compound where the castle owner lived his everyday life and administered to state affairs; the Ninomaru, the second compound located outside of the Honmaru, where feudal lords were met by the castle owner; and a part of the Sannomaru, the third compound surrounding the Ninomaru.

The museum of Imperial Collection

Except for the moats, walls, several guardhouses and entrance gates, none of the main buildings remain today.

Guardhouse 1: Doshin bansho Guardhouse, one of three guardhouses still remaining. Samurai guardsmen kept constant watch especially on the members of the lord's retinue who entered through the Ote-mon gate

Guardhouse2: Hyakunin-bansho Guardhouse. The biggest guardhouse set up in front of the Ote-san-no-mon gate leading to the Honmoru and Ninomaru, for inspection of visitors who entered from the Ote-mon gate. 100 samurai guardsmen work in shifts

The stonewalls of the Honmaru-Nakanomon Gate & (Guard house 3) the Obansho, the Great Guardhouse, the final checkpoint strictly guarded by samurai guardsmen of higher rank than the other guardhouses.

A good view of the vast lawn can be enjoyed from the former Edo Castle’s Tenshudai Donjon Base on the hilltop. The castle tower was the tallest donjon ever built in Japan which symbolized the authority of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It burnt down in 1657 after it was completed in 1638 and was never reconstructed.

The Tenshudai Donjon Base & the Tokagakudo Concert Hall

A collection of roange trees of different species

Curious. the lone tree frowing at the corner of the Tenshudai Donjon Base

I had a cool, relaxing walk around the East Garden. I can just imagine how beautiful the place must be at springtime. I will be back to this place when the sakura blooms.