May 31, 2016
Imperial Household Agency
The Imperial Household Agency has offered guided tour of the Imperial Palace to the public by prior registration. For the greater convenience of those who wish to visit the Imperial Palace, the Agency will further expand the availability of the guided tour, as follows.
Ⅰ. Start DateThe maximum number of participants per tour will be increased from about 300 to about 500.
In addition to prior registration, same-day registration will be made available as well.
Currently conducted on weekdays, the tours will also be held on Saturdays, while they will no longer be given on Mondays.
Other than the above, the times, duration, and specifications of the tour will remain unchanged.
Tours are generally conducted twice a day at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm.
Each tour takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
No tours are given on the following days and times:
The total capacity for each tour will be about 500 (up to 50 persons per group).
Note: Due to renovations at the Someikan (Visitors’ House), tour sizes will be kept small from Tuesday, July 5, to Saturday, October 29, 2016, as follows:
Anyone 18 years of age or older; those under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Outside the Kikyo-mon gate of the Imperial Palace
Please form a single line in front of the sign written “Same-day Registration for Guided Tour of the Imperial Palace.”
Map of the Imperial Palace Grounds (PDF:103KB)
Morning tour: From 9:30 am to 10:00 am (numbered tickets will be distributed from 8:30 am)
Afternoon tour: From 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm (numbered tickets will be distributed from 12:00 noon)
For each tour, registration will close when capacity is reached.
General directions remain unchanged. Note, however, that telephone and Tour Office hours are from 8:45 am to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on the days given above in Ⅲ. 1. Dates and times of tours.
For details, visit the page given below.
Imperial Palace Visit Guide http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html
Both preregistered visitors and those who have made same-day registrations will participate together in the guided tour. The tour route is as follows:
Kikyo-mon Gate (entry) - Someikan (Visitors’ House) - Fujimi-yagura (“Mt. Fuji View” Keep) – Kyuden Totei Plaza - Seimon-tetsu-bashi bridge (walk across and back) - Yamashita-dori street - Imperial Household Agency Building – Kikyo-mon Gate (exit)
Imperial Palace Tour Course Map (PDF:74KB)
Tours, including their time, frequency, and routes, are subject to change or cancellation due to official Court functions or other unavoidable circumstances.
For inquiries regarding the above, please contact the following: