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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Tokyo Imperial Palace
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Japan's Imperial Palace is regarded as the heart and soul of
Tokyo, standing on a huge site that still bears the remains of Edo
Castle, stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate. The present palace
was completed in 1888 and is still home to the emperor of Japan.
The palace is off-limits but its grounds and surrounds provide a
much-needed green open space for the city with Higashi Gyoen (East
Garden), site of the Edo Castle keep, open to the public. On
January 2nd and December 23rd each year visitors are able to enter
the inner grounds and see the Imperial family make public
appearances from the balcony. Guided tours of the palace are
offered, but are only in Japanese, although an English pamphlet and
audio guide are provided; these must be reserved in advance through
the Imperial Household Agency. In spring the gardens are awash with
colour when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, particularly along
the castle moat.
Information & Facts
Admission
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
Opening Times
East Garden is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Otherwise it is open daily 9am-4pm (until 3:30pm between November
and February). Gardens closed from 28 December to 3 January and
when Imperial Court functions take place.
Time