Viewing Archives of the Imperial Household Archives

The Imperial Household Archives holds the Specified Historical Public Records and Archives from the Meiji Era. The Records and Archives, which have been compiled or acquired by the Imperial Household Ministry, the Imperial Household Office, or the Imperial Household Agency, have been transferred to the Imperial Household Archives.

People wishing to use the Specified Historical Public Records and Archives held by the Imperial Household Archives are requested to make an inquiry as detailed below.

No particular qualifications are required.

Please fill in all the required items in the Request for Use Form, including name, address, telephone number, and the archives for which viewing is sought, etc., and submit the form either in person to the circulation desk in the Reading Room, or by post to the abovementioned for inquiries and await a decision on use of the archives

For items in the archives classified as “fully open for use” or “partially open for use,” a simplified method of access is available that does not require the abovementioned request procedures. For such items a Simplified Form for Reading of the Specified Historical Public Records and Archives can be submitted to the circulation desk to view them.

• Archives and Mausolea Department Catalog and Image Disclosure System

(The new browser window opens. This website is only available in Japanese.)

9:15-17:00 (The circulation desk is closed at 16:30.)

Saturdays and Sundays

National holidays as prescribed by law

Year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 - January 4)

Days when the Reading Room is not available due to official ceremonies at the Imperial

Palace (Such days will, in principle, be notified two weeks in advance.)

Archives and Mausolea Department Building is located in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. All visitors are requested to use public transportation and enter through 北桔橋門（Kitahanebashi-mon Gate）because we have no parking lot. If you are a disabled visitor, please contact us so we can assist you.

On the First basement floor of Archives and Mausolea Department Building.

People may bring their own cameras to the Reading Room and photograph the Specified Historical Public Records and Archives. (Please refrain from using flash or tripods, etc. Two photography platforms (copy stands) are available.)

Second Section of Imperial Household Archives, Archives Division, Archives and Mausolea Department, The Imperial Household Agency

1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8111, Japan

TEL: +81(0)3-3213-1111

Direct: +81(0)3-3213-7522

Ext. : 3798

Phone operating hours: 9:15 to 17:00 except on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays designated by national holiday’s law, and Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 - January 3)

E-mail:kunai_kobunshokan○kunaicho.go.jp （Please replace "○” with”@”）

(in one-byte characters)