Trial Operation to introduce Same-day Registration to the Guided Tours of the Imperial Palace for the further improvement of the service
April 11, 2016
Imperial Household Agency
The Imperial Household Agency has offered guided tours 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 is planning to expand the capacity to accept visitors, to introduce same-day registration and to introduce some other measures. As a preparation for the improvement of the service, the Agency will introduce same-day registration on a trial basis. Please see below for details.
Following the trial operation, the Agency will conduct a review with an eye to offering tours by both prior and same-day registration beginning early in the 2016 fiscal year.
- Ⅰ. Trial period
- Monday, April 18, to Friday, April 22, 2016 (5 days)
- Ⅱ. Registration times
- 1. Morning tour: From 9:00 am to 10:00 am (On a first-come basis. To be wound up as soon as the available places have been filled.)
- 2. Afternoon tour: From 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm (same as above.)
- Ⅲ. The number of places to be registered
- Varies depending on the number of people who have prior registration. The total number of places combining the prior registration and same-day registration is 500.
- Ⅴ. Qualifications
- Anyone 18 years of age or older; those under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
- Ⅶ. Other information
- ・Prior to registration, applicants will be asked to present a proper form of identification, such as a driver’s license or, for foreign visitors, a passport.
Individuals without a proper form of identification will not be able to take part in the tour by same-day registration.
- ・After registration is completed, staff will hand out neck straps with cards numbered. Please wear the strap around your neck from the time you enter the gate until you exit it.
- ・Staff will collect the neck straps when exiting the gate at the end of the tour.
- ・An application form will be distributed at the Someikan (Visitors’ House). Please fill in the required information.
- ◆ Those ineligible to participate
- ◇ Persons who fail to present a proper form of identification, refuse to fill in the application form, or otherwise do not follow instructions
- ◇ Persons deemed to potentially cause discomfort or nuisance to others due to heavy intoxication or other reasons
- ◇ Persons accompanied by animals (excluding assistance dogs for persons with disabilities)
- ◇ Persons carrying dangerous articles, small unmanned aircraft systems, or other objects that may cause harm to other visitors
- ◆ Notes
- ◇ Explanations and instructions by staff will be given in Japanese only.
- ◇ A limited number of lockers are available at the Someikan (Visitors’ House) for storing personal items of about hand luggage size.
- ◇ Participants should not stray from staff supervision or turn back midway through the tour.
- ◇ For your own safety and those of others, taking photographs while walking is forbidden.
- ◇ Please note that members of the Imperial Guard may conduct baggage inspections or frisk searches as needed.
- ◇ In addition to the above, persons who engage in behavior that disrupts the order of the Imperial Palace Grounds, cause a hindrance to the tour, or do not follow instructions may be asked to leave.
If you would like to make prior registration (reservations) for a tour of the Imperial Palace, please visit the page below for information.
Imperial Palace Visit Guide (Open this content in a new window)
For inquiries regarding the above, please contact the following
- Administration Division, Maintenance and Works Department, Imperial Household Agency
- Phone: 03-3213-1111 (main line)