Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Imperial Palace Grounds
At the center of one of the largest cities in the developed world, the Imperial
Palace grounds sit amid a galaxy of busy urban centers. The compound con-
tains the magnificent remains of the emperor's residence, moats, stone walls,
watch towers, ancient towers and gates, fairytale bridges, and occasional
police cordons. Among the few places where one can witness the persistence
of history, the public areas of the grounds are also home to museums, galler-
ies, and beautifully maintained Japanese gardens. A hugely solemn spot,
resonating with cultural meaning, the grounds never fail to enthrall visitors.
Top 10 Features
1 Sakurada-mon Gate
2 Nippon Budokan
3 National Museum of
Modern Art
4 Imperial Palace Plaza
5 Chidorigafuchi
6 Crafts Gallery
7 Shiomizaka
8 Wadakura Fountain Park
9 Ote-mon Gate and
Nijubashi Bridge
0 Imperial Palace East Gardens
A picturesque view of the
Sakurada-mon Gate
All the museums
here remain closed
on Mondays. Try to
visit the grounds
early, before the mid-
morning tour groups
turn up. Spring
visitors can enjoy
the plum and cherry
blossom viewing
in February and late
April, and azaleas
and dogwood in
mid-May.
!
Sakurada-mon Gate
This entrance to the
palace's outer gardens was
erected in 1457. A survivor
of earthquakes, fi res, and
air raids, the entrance
consists of two structures:
one, a broad inner gate, is
angled at 90-degrees to
thwart intruders.
Picnics are permitted
in Kitanomaru Park,
but it's better to
cross the road south
of the palace grounds
for Hibiya Park,
where there is an
outdoor café serving
sandwiches, noodles,
and a surprisingly
decent plate of
British fi sh 'n' chips.
@
Nippon Budokan
The colossal octagonal
roof of the Budokan
(left)
, or Japan Martial
Arts Hall, has onion-
shaped fi nials covered in
gold leaf. Its ornamental
elements resemble those
seen in traditional
Japanese temples.
#
National Museum
$
Imperial Palace
of Modern Art
More than 3,000 works by
Japanese and Western art-
ists, dating from the Meiji
era to the present day, are
exhibited here. The contro-
versial Paris habitué Tsugu-
hara Fujita is also featured.
Plaza
The plaza's manicured
lawns, cherry trees, and
stands of ornamental
black pine were laid
out in 1899. The gravel
concourse acts as
a fi rebreak.
• Map K1-M4
Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku
• Adm (for museums
and galleries)
• www.kunaicho.go.jp/
eindex.html
8
The Imperial Palace Plaza's gravel concourse also serves as a
cordon sanitaire
separating the palace from the city proper.
