Edo Castle's keep is gone, but its gates, turrets, and stone keep base remain in the Imperial Palace East Gardens, which are free to enter. This guide covers the gardens in five areas, from Otemon Gate to the Tenshudai Keep Base, plus the Imperial Palace Public Tour and the Inui Street public opening, which take you into parts of the palace that are normally closed.
- Is Edo Castle Still Standing?
- Imperial Palace East Gardens Hours, Admission and Time Needed (Edo Castle Ruins)
- Three Ways to Visit Edo Castle Today
- Imperial Palace East Gardens: What to See in the 5 Areas
- Imperial Palace Public Tour & Inui Street Public Opening
- Where to stay before or after Edo Castle
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More on Tokugawa Ieyasu
Is Edo Castle Still Standing?
Partly. Edo Castle's main keep burned down in the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 and was never rebuilt, and the palace buildings of the Honmaru are gone. What you can see today are the stone base of the keep, Fujimi-yagura Turret, Hyakunin-bansho Guardhouse, and other Edo-period remains, along with Otemon Gate (its Koraimon gate rebuilt in 1659 and its Watari-yagura gate restored in 1967) and marked sites such as the Matsu-no-Oroka Corridor. After the Meiji Restoration, the castle's central area became the Imperial Palace. Since 1968, its eastern part, the former Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru, has been open to the public as the Imperial Palace East Gardens, free of charge and with no booking.
Edo Castle was expanded into a vast complex after Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo, with major building work continuing under the second shogun, Hidetada, and the third, Iemitsu. From the founding of the Edo shogunate in 1603, it was the residence of the Tokugawa shoguns and the seat of their government.
This guide divides the East Gardens into five areas and also covers the Imperial Palace Public Tour and the Inui Street public opening, which let you walk through parts of the palace that are normally closed. The full map below shows where each area is.
Imperial Palace East Gardens Hours, Admission and Time Needed (Edo Castle Ruins)
Entry to the Imperial Palace East Gardens (the Edo Castle ruins) is free, and you do not need a ticket or a reservation; you collect an admission token at the gate. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the main route from Otemon Gate to the Honmaru Area, or 2 to 3 hours for all five areas.
| Admission | Free; collect an admission token at the gate |
|---|---|
| Reservation | Not needed (the guided Imperial Palace Public Tour takes advance or same-day bookings) |
| Closed Days | Mondays and Fridays; December 28 to January 3; and days affected by official events. They open on national holidays other than the Emperor's Birthday; when they open on a Monday holiday, they close the following Tuesday instead. |
| Opening Hours | March 1 to April 14: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., entry until 4:30 p.m. / April 15 to the end of August: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., entry until 5:30 p.m. / September: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., entry until 4:30 p.m. / October: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., entry until 4:00 p.m. / November to February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., entry until 3:30 p.m. |
| Time Needed | All five areas: 2 to 3 hours / Otemon Gate to the Honmaru Area: 1 to 1.5 hours / Honmaru Area only: about 1 hour |
| Entrances | Otemon Gate, Hirakawa Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate |
| Nearest Stations | For Otemon Gate: about 5 minutes on foot from Exit C13a of Otemachi Station (M18/T09/C11/Z08/I09), about 5 minutes from Takebashi Station (T08, Tozai Line), about 10 minutes from Exit 6 of Nijubashimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and about 15 minutes from the Marunouchi North Exit of JR Tokyo Station. |
| From Tokyo Station | About 15 minutes on foot from the Marunouchi North Exit (JR lines including Shinkansen). This is the easiest approach if you arrive by Shinkansen from Kyoto, Osaka, or elsewhere. |
Three Ways to Visit Edo Castle Today
| Experience | When | Reservation | Time Needed | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Palace East GardensSelf-guided / Free | Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun Year-round (closed Mon & Fri) |
Not needed | 1 – 3 hours | Gates, turrets, Tenshudai, gardens — the main castle remains |
| Imperial Palace Public TourGuided / Free / ID required | Tue – Sat (closed Sundays, Mondays, most national holidays, and New Year holidays) Year-round |
Advance online booking or same-day walk-in (Kikyo-mon Gate, 300 tickets, 9:00 a.m. / 12:30 p.m.) |
~75 min | Normally closed areas: Nijubashi, Fushimi Yagura, East Court |
| Inui StreetSelf-guided / Free | Spring & Autumn only | Not needed | 30 – 60 min | Cherry blossoms / autumn foliage along a rarely opened inner route |
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are closed every Monday and Friday (except national holidays) and from December 28 to January 3. Opening days and entry procedures may change. Always check the official Imperial Household Agency website before visiting.
Imperial Palace East Gardens: What to See in the 5 Areas
About This Guide
7 Highlights: A Self-Guided 90-Minute Tour of Edo Castle's Best Remains
Not sure where to start, or only have an hour or two? This route covers 7 key spots: original Edo-period gates, the only surviving three-story turret, and the stone base where one of Japan's largest castle keeps once stood. Each stop explains what to look for and what happened there.
Start the Self-Guided Tour →Full Guide: All 5 Areas, 30 Spots — With Complete Historical Background
For repeat visitors, serious history enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to go beyond the highlights. The sections below cover every part of the East Gardens in detail, plus the Imperial Palace Public Tour and the seasonal Inui Street opening.
Imperial Palace East Gardens | Guide to the 5 Areas
The East Gardens cover a large area, so this guide divides them into five areas by character and location. Each card leads to a detailed guide for that area.
Otemon Gate Area
This is the first area you pass through when entering Edo Castle from Otemon Gate, the castle's formal front gate. Daimyo and shogunal retainers passed through here on their way into the castle. The masugata, a square enclosure formed by the Koraimon gate and the reconstructed Ote-watari-yagura Gate, shows how tightly the entrance was guarded. The long Hyakunin-bansho Guardhouse is another highlight. The Museum of the Imperial Collections is closed while its new building is completed and is scheduled to open fully on November 3, 2026 (as of October 2026).
Read the Otemon Gate Area guide (4 spots) →Fujimi-yagura Turret Area
This area is home to Fujimi-yagura, Edo Castle's only surviving three-story turret. After the main keep burned down, the shogun is said to have viewed Mount Fuji from this turret. The Matsu-no-Oroka Corridor Site in the same area is where the 1701 sword attack took place that led to the story of the Forty-seven Ronin.
- Nakanomon Gate Site
- Obansho Guardhouse
- Chujakumon Gate Site
- Fujimi-yagura Turret
- Matsu-no-Oroka Corridor Site
Honmaru Area
This was the core of Edo Castle, where the Tokugawa shoguns carried out the business of government. The broad Honmaru Site is now an open lawn, with ground markings that help convey the scale of the former Ooku women's quarters and Omote Palace. The stone walls of the Tenshudai Keep Base still survive, and you can climb to the top, where the view across the castle grounds shows how large Edo Castle was.
- Fujimi-tamon Defense House
- Stone Chamber
- Honmaru Site
- Reconstructed Model of Edo Castle's Main Keep
- Daidokoro-mae Sanju-yagura Turret Site
- Tenshudai Keep Base
- Kitahanebashi-mon Gate
Ninomaru Area
This area is known for the calm atmosphere of Ninomaru Garden, as well as Hirakawa Gate and Hirakawa Bridge. Ninomaru Garden is a re-creation of an Edo-period stroll garden, with plants that change through the seasons. Hirakawa Gate was known as Otsubone-mon because it served as a service gate for women attendants of the Honmaru Ooku, and it is said to have also been called the Impure Gate because the dead and criminals were taken out of the castle through it.
Read the Ninomaru Area guide (5 spots) →Outer Grounds
This area follows gates, moats, and shrines scattered around the outer perimeter of the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Sakuradamon Gate is known as the site of the 1860 Sakuradamon Incident, the assassination of Ii Naosuke, chief minister of the Tokugawa shogunate. Chidorigafuchi is one of Tokyo's best-known cherry-blossom spots. Many sites in the Outer Grounds can be visited without entering the East Gardens, making the area easy to explore even when time is limited.
- Hirakawa Tenmangu Shrine
- Chidorigafuchi
- Hanzomon Gate
- Sakuradamon Gate
- Onjuku Inari Shrine
- Kikyo-mon Gate (Inner Sakuradamon Gate)
- Tatsumi-yagura Turret
- Shimizu-mon Gate
- Tayasu-mon Gate
Edo Castle Map: Where the 5 Areas Are
The map below shows how the five areas relate to one another. The Otemon Gate Area, Fujimi-yagura Turret Area, and Honmaru Area can be visited in sequence. The Ninomaru Area and Outer Grounds are somewhat farther apart, so it is best to plan your route in advance.
Getting There: Nearest Stations and Entrances
| Address | 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Nearest Stations | Otemachi Station (M18/T09/C11/Z08 Tokyo Metro lines, I09 Toei Mita Line), about 5 minutes on foot from Exit C13a / Takebashi Station (T08, Tozai Line), about 5 minutes on foot / Nijubashimae Station (C10, Chiyoda Line), about 10 minutes on foot from Exit 6 |
| From Tokyo Station | About 15 minutes on foot from the Marunouchi North Exit (JR lines including Shinkansen). This is the easiest approach if you arrive by Shinkansen from Kyoto, Osaka, or elsewhere. |
| Entrances | Otemon Gate (main entrance), Hirakawa Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate |
| Opening Hours | Hours vary by season. March 1 to April 14 and September: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; April 15 to the end of August: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; October: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; November to February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Entry is until 30 minutes before closing in all seasons. |
| Closed Days | Mondays and Fridays; December 28 to January 3; and days affected by official events. They open on national holidays other than the Emperor's Birthday; when they open on a Monday holiday, they close the following Tuesday instead. |
| Admission | Free. You collect an admission token at the gate. |
| Notes | The gardens may close temporarily for Imperial Household events and ceremonies. Please check the official Imperial Household Agency website for the latest information. |
Imperial Palace Public Tour & Inui Street Public Opening
Two special openings let you walk through parts of the Imperial Palace that are normally closed: the Inui Street public opening and the Imperial Palace Public Tour. Both pass through areas outside the East Gardens, with views of Edo Castle's gates, turrets, and moats.
Where to stay before or after Edo Castle
PRThis section contains affiliate links to Agoda. If you book through them, this site earns a commission. I choose hotels for their location and how easy they are to travel from.
The East Gardens take one to two hours to walk, so pick a hotel to suit what you are doing before and after. Here are three areas for three kinds of trip. Prices vary widely by date and room type, so I have not compared them.
CLOSE TO THE SITE
Tokyo Station area
About 15 minutes on foot from the Marunouchi North Exit to Otemon Gate
Good if you want to walk the East Gardens early, or get back to your hotel soon after. The area around Tokyo Station has a wide choice of hotels, and the Marunouchi side is within walking distance of the palace grounds.
It is about a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station to Otemon Gate, through the streets of Marunouchi. From Otemachi Station it takes about 5 minutes.
Browse Tokyo Station hotels on AgodaEASY TO MOVE ON
Shinagawa area
About 10 minutes to Tokyo Station by JR
Good if you are heading to another city by Shinkansen or flying out the next day. Shinagawa Station is on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, and the Keikyu line runs to Haneda Airport. For Edo Castle, ride JR to Tokyo Station and walk from there.
A hotel close to Shinagawa Station makes the next day’s travel much easier. Check the distance to the station on the map before you book.
Browse Shinagawa hotels on AgodaA SPECIAL STAY
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Inside the Marunouchi station building
Opened in 1915 inside the Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station. The East Gardens are within walking distance, and the building itself is worth seeing. Best for travelers who want to make the stay part of the trip.
To keep costs down, you can also browse the same Tokyo Station area through 01.
Check rates on AgodaThe links open with Agoda’s default dates and guest count. Check the dates, price, and cancellation terms on the booking page before you reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Partly. The main keep burned down in the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 and was never rebuilt, and the palace buildings of the Honmaru are gone. What remains are the stone base of the keep, Fujimi-yagura Turret, Hyakunin-bansho Guardhouse, and other gates, stone walls, and moats. Otemon Gate, the main gate, combines a Koraimon gate rebuilt in 1659 with a Watari-yagura gate restored in 1967. The site is now the Imperial Palace, and its eastern part, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, is open to the public free of charge.
Yes. The Imperial Palace East Gardens occupy the former Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru areas of Edo Castle. They have been open to the public since 1968 and can be visited free of charge.
No. Entry to the Imperial Palace East Gardens is free and needs no booking; you collect an admission token at the gate. The guided Imperial Palace Public Tour works differently: you can book online in advance or get a same-day ticket at Kikyo-mon Gate, and you need to bring ID.
Admission is free. According to the Imperial Household Agency, no admission fee or advance reservation is required. The three entrances are Otemon Gate, Hirakawa Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate. Opening hours and temporary closures may change, so please check the official website before visiting.
The gardens open at 9:00 a.m. Closing time changes with the season: 5:00 p.m. from March 1 to April 14 and in September, 6:00 p.m. from April 15 to the end of August, 4:30 p.m. in October, and 4:00 p.m. from November to February. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
The gardens are closed every Monday and Friday. They are open on national holidays other than the Emperor's Birthday, but if a national holiday falls on a Monday, the gardens are closed the following Tuesday instead. The gardens are also closed from December 28 to January 3, and temporary closures may occur for Imperial Household events and ceremonies, so it is best to check the official Imperial Household Agency website before visiting.
If you walk slowly through all five areas, allow about 2 to 3 hours. If your time is limited, focusing on the route from Otemon Gate to the Honmaru Area lets you see the main highlights in about 1 to 1.5 hours. The Honmaru Area alone takes about 1 hour.
The main keep itself burned down in the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 and no longer exists. However, the stone base of the keep remains in the Honmaru Area, and you can climb to the top. A reconstructed model of Edo Castle's main keep can also be seen in the Honmaru Site area.
There are three: Otemon Gate (the main entrance), Hirakawa Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate. Otemon Gate is about 5 minutes on foot from Exit C13a of Otemachi Station and about 15 minutes from the Marunouchi North Exit of JR Tokyo Station.
The Matsu-no-Oroka Corridor Site is in the Fujimi-yagura Turret Area. It is known as the place where Asano Takumi-no-kami attacked Kira Kozuke-no-suke in 1701. Today, a marker and explanatory sign identify the site.
No. Sakuradamon Gate and Chidorigafuchi are outside the Imperial Palace East Gardens. This guide introduces them separately as part of the Outer Grounds, and they can be visited without entering the East Gardens.
There are no restaurants inside the gardens. Use cafés and restaurants outside Otemon Gate or around the Takebashi and Otemachi areas. Vending machines for drinks are available inside the gardens.
Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo in 1590 after being transferred to the Kanto region by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. From then on, he developed and expanded Edo Castle. After he became shogun in 1603 and founded the Edo shogunate, Edo Castle became the seat of shogunal government and saw major construction work.
It is possible. Tokyo is connected to Kyoto and Osaka by the Tokaido Shinkansen, with journey times of approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from Kyoto and about 2 hours 30 minutes from Osaka (Shin-Osaka) by Nozomi. JR Tokyo Station is about 15 minutes on foot from Otemon Gate. Because the East Gardens are closed on Mondays and Fridays, check the schedule before travelling. For most visitors, the East Gardens work best as part of a full day in central Tokyo rather than as a stand-alone day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
More on Tokugawa Ieyasu
The Edo Castle Ruins are part of our series on places connected with Tokugawa Ieyasu. For his life and other related sites, see the page below.
Continue Ieyasu's Story in Tokyo & Beyond
Edo Castle was where Ieyasu ruled. His memory is enshrined elsewhere in and around Tokyo, and other Edo-period buildings still survive nearby. These guides continue the story.
Back to Main Page
Opening hours and closed days may change. Before visiting, please check the official Imperial Household Agency website.
This page is a historical travel guide created by Following the Shogun.
☕ Support This Site
Following the Shogun is built on original fieldwork and on-site research.
If you found this guide useful, your support helps keep it going.
You can also support via QR code
comment