Imperial Palace Walking Tour: The Shoguns and the Imperial Family

1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 55 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

Hi guys! I’m Yuki.I’ve been running walking tours for over a year now. I studied education at Meiji University and have a junior high school social studies teaching license. I also worked in Vancouver, Canada for about a year and a half.

If you just walk around here, it’s honestly hard to know what you’re looking at. I’ll break down who the Emperor is, why this place matters, and how Japanese people see the Emperor today.

We’ll take a walk through the Imperial Palace area, which used to be Edo Castle. I’ll share easy stories about samurai life, castle defenses, and things like watchtowers and moats.

We’ll also visit some popular Japanese gardens. They’re great for photos, and there’s a small model of the old castle that helps you picture what this place looked like back in the day.

I recently launched this tour, so there aren’t many reviews yet—that’s why I’ve kept the price a bit lower.
But don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of guiding experience, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the tour!

What's Included

Entrance fee
Restroom on board
a sour Japanese candy made with pickled plum
Meals

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
Wadakura Fountain National Park

The meeting point is Wada Fountain Plaza, right in front of Starbucks. When you arrive at Wada Fountain Plaza, look for the fountain in the open square. You’ll see a Starbucks next to the fountain. Please wait in front of Starbucks, near the fountain.

End point
Imperial Palace

The tour will end in one of the public areas within the Imperial Palace grounds.

Itinerary

Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 55 minutes (approximately)
  • 1
    Imperial Palace

    During the walk, you’ll visit yagura watchtowers, old castle grounds, beautiful gardens, and even a small souvenir area. Along the way, your guide explains how the yagura and moats worked together to protect the castle. These details help you see that the landscape isn’t just beautiful—it was carefully designed for defense. The Imperial Palace is still where the Emperor of Japan lives today. While you can’t enter the palace buildings, this tour focuses on walking through the areas that are open to the public. It’s a rare chance to explore such an important place on foot, right in the heart of Tokyo. You’ll also enjoy peaceful Japanese gardens and see a miniature scale model of the old castle, which makes it easy to imagine what the area looked like in the past. It’s a great visual highlight and a perfect moment to slow down and take photos.

    1 hour 40 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Kokyo Otemon Gate

    “This Ōtemon Gate area was an important place the shogun used.”

    10 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Supplied by japantourco
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Tags

Private and Luxury
Architecture Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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