following the shogun

Inui Street runs through the inner grounds of Tokyo Imperial Palace — normally closed to the public, but open each spring and autumn. This guide explains how to enter, what to expect, and what you'll see along the route.

The official Imperial Palace public tour takes you inside the usually closed grounds, past Nijubashi, surviving turrets, and the site of Edo Castle's former keep. Entry is free — this guide covers booking, ID requirements, and what you'll see.

Otemon was Edo Castle's principal gate — the entrance used by lords visiting the Shogun. Today it marks the start of the East Gardens walk. This guide explains what you're looking at and why it matters.

Matsu-no-Oroka — the corridor inside Edo Castle where the 47 Ronin incident began — is now part of the Imperial Palace East Gardens. This guide covers the site, Fujimi-yagura turret, and what survives from the original castle.

The Honmaru was the heart of Edo Castle — home to the Shogun's palace and the Ooku inner chambers. Today you can climb the stone keep base where Japan's largest tower once stood. This guide explains what to look for.

The Ninomaru Area holds one of the East Gardens' best-preserved historic gates, a traditional teahouse, and a landscaped garden — less visited than the Honmaru, but worth the extra few minutes.