Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour

4.8 / 5
24 reviews
500+ booked
Imperial Palace
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  • Explore the Palace's East Gardens to enjoy beautiful seasonal flowers and walk through the grounds of the old Shogun's castle.
  • Take a stroll around Nihonbashi, Tokyo's bustling commercial hub with over 400 years of history.
  • Since it’s a completely private tour, you can explore freely and at your own pace.

Package options

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Guide in Korean

Guide in English

Guide in Mandarin

Quantity

You must select at least 2 and no more than 15 for this package
US$ 79.35

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What to expect

Discover Japan’s Imperial Palace, home of the Emperor and former site of Edo Castle, the center of political power in Japan. While we won’t enter the inner palace, you’ll explore the beautiful East Gardens, Wadakura Fountain Park, and the historic grounds of the old castle, learning fascinating stories about its past. This private walking tour is perfect for experiencing Tokyo’s rich heritage at your own pace—just remember to wear comfortable shoes! You’ll also visit Nihonbashi, a historic commercial district over 400 years old, immersing yourself in the cultural and historical charm of Tokyo.

(This tour is different from the official guided tour offered by the Imperial Household Agency.)

We guarantee a thorough and attentive tour guided by a dedicated private guide.
We guarantee a thorough and attentive tour guided by a dedicated private guide.
We guarantee a thorough and attentive tour guided by a dedicated private guide.
We guarantee a thorough and attentive tour guided by a dedicated private guide.
This dynamic and vibrant bronze statue is actually one of Tokyo's three great bronze statues. (The other two are the statue of Saigo Takamori in Ueno and the statue of Masujiro Omura at Yasukuni Shrine.)
This dynamic and vibrant bronze statue is actually one of Tokyo's three great bronze statues. (The other two are the statue of Saigo Takamori in Ueno and the statue of Masujiro Omura at Yasukuni Shrine.)
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
Chidorigafuchi, the moat of the Imperial Palace, is a famous spot for cherry blossoms, but it also offers beautiful scenery throughout all four seasons.
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
The route from the Imperial Palace to Tokyo Station is lined with many Western-style buildings. This is because, during Japan’s Meiji period (1868–1912), there was a strong push to modernize and adopt Western architectural styles to symbolize the country’
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
The largest checkpoint in the Edo period was known as Hyakunin-bansho, or "Guardhouse of One Hundred Men," because it was guarded by groups of one hundred men at a time.
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
For travelers with limited time, our experienced guides efficiently provide customized, original tours tailored to your interests.
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
The Tokyo Imperial Palace, or "Kōkyo," is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Situated on the former site of Edo Castle, it holds a rich history dating back to the 15th century.
Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour
The shachihoko, usually displayed on a castle roof, is exhibited in the gardens of the Imperial Palace because the original castle was lost to fire during wartime. It’s a rare opportunity to see it up close and appreciate its intricate details!

Reviews

4.8 / 5
Fantastic
24 reviews
Guide
4.8
Itinerary
4.8
Quality of transfer
4.7
Value for money
4.8
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All With photos English only
Review for: Guide in English

Miwakosan was so kind and knowledgeable!! we had a nice and calm time with her. We were half and hour late but she still waited and extended time for us after the 3 hour period. The grounds should be historically explored so miwakosan did a good job at explaining everything from that angle. Taking a private tour with grounds like this is a must bcs its so huge. You would tend to get lost in large groups, so this was much needed to explore such and area. She had lamintaed booklets too!! The dedication to our understanding was so moving. We really loved her effort and personality. Thank you so very much miwakosan, we miss you already!

Helpful
Review for: Guide in English

Our experience with our guide Makki was perfection. She was so knowledgeable, and patiently answered all of our questions. We loved our time and tour with her! And she brought us treats! The best time was had!

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Review for: Guide in English

Amazing experience. Our guide was fantastic. Could not have asked for a more friendly and lovely guide. Gave us so much information and I felt it was really good value for money. It was a private tour so went at the pace we wanted to. While still making sure we saw everything.

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Review for: Guide in Mandarin

The tour guide was incredibly professional and provided detailed explanations, having prepared a wealth of information. This allowed us to deeply engage with the history of Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace (Edo Castle), spanning from modern times, through World War II, the Imperial era, and back to the Edo period. We admired the beautiful scenery and design. Highly recommended!

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Review for: Guide in English

Makki was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. She even provided us with snacks! She made this the best tour. Highly recommend.

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Review for: Guide in Mandarin

Our guide, Mr. Kamiyama, was fluent in Chinese and very knowledgeable. He enhanced his explanations with early photos of Edo Castle, which helped us better understand the historical evolution. He also enthusiastically took us to Chidorigafuchi. Highly recommended!

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Review for: Guide in English

Our guide Miwako was very interesting, knowledgeable, funny and very nice. We loved the Tokyo Station tour and the Imperial garden. We had alot of information about the history of Japan. It was a very hot day but we had the opportunity to take multiple breaks and our guide took the time to answer all our questions and listen to our stories. I strongly recommend this private guide tour.

Helpful
Review for: Guide in Mandarin

Travelers who are not familiar with Tokyo history can try it. The tour guide is a Tokyo native and can also speak Chinese. He is very enthusiastic in explaining Tokyo's historical buildings and allusions. He is a very enthusiastic tour guide.

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Review for: Guide in Mandarin

our guide was extremely friendly. although the tour was booked for mandarin by accident, our guide did her best to give the tour in English. she was very descriptive of each Historical point and gave a lot of great context that led to the modern day. she was very professional and friendly.

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Review for: Guide in Mandarin

Our tour guide, Mr. Kamiyama, provided a detailed and clear Chinese-language tour of the history and culture, and also offered travel recommendations. We benefited greatly, found it very interesting, and it's definitely worth experiencing!

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Good to know

  • The Imperial Palace is surrounded by both the inner moat (uchibori) and the outer moat (sotobori). These moats were originally created as a defense system for Edo Castle. Today, the waters of the moats are maintained as clear streams, offering visitors a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

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