Tokyo Imperial Palace

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Edo Castle (Tokyo Imperial Palace) Seimon Stonebridge

About

Once called the "Edo Castle", it is now the "Tokyo Imperial Palace". The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family, a guarded palace for the Royal family of Japan. The residence is surrounded by moats and massive stone walls and is smack dab in the center of Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. The area the Imperial Palace encompasses is huge so to visit many of the important attractions you will be doing a lot of walking. If you plan on visiting in the summer, bring along a sun umbrella and water. Some areas like the Kyoko Gaien and East Garden (see map below) are open to the public while guided tours are available to visit a limited area of the Inner Grounds. Edo Caste was converted to the Imperial Palace after the Shogun retired (was overthrown) and relinquished power back to the Emperor. Edo Castle used to be the seat of the Shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until 1867. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and the country's capital and Imperial Residence were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In 1888 construction of a new Imperial Palace was completed. The palace was destroyed during World War 2 but rebuilt in the same style once peace dawned.

NOTE If you want to take the tour into the Inner Area, you must "Apply to Visit" the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. See the "Official Imperial Palace Website for details. The "Application Process" has specific rules and must be followed. It is possible to apply 1 day before a tour but well advised to apply at least a couple/few days, a week or more in advance (because there is paperwork and time is needed. Also if it is full you cannot go). The tours are generally conducted on weekdays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The tour will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Map of the Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace Map

It's about a 8.3 kilometer walk around the outside of the palace and would take you 2 to 3 hours to walk around the outside of the whole thing [ Example Walk around the outside of the palace ].

Brief History Timeline of Edo Castle

1457: The Ota Dokan of the Uesugi clan constructed a castle here. It was the 2nd most powerful castle the Kanto Region after Odawara Castle (controlled by the Hojo Clan).
1524: The Hojo clan seized control of Edo Castle from the Uesugi clan.
1590: After the defeat of the Hojo Clan at the Siege of Odawara, Tokugawa Ieyasu became lord of Edo Castle. He could have used Odawara Castle to be his seat of power as it was the strongest castle at the time but decided to start new in the small town of Edo. The Tokugawa Period or Edo Period was from 1603 to 1868.
1592: Tokugawa Ieyasu began extensive renovations and new constructions of Edo Castle.
1603: Edo Castle became the center of Shogunate residence & rule, from 1603 onwards.
1607: Construction of the Main Keep began.
1638: The Main Keep and expansion of multiple Towers and Walls made Tokyo Castle the biggest it ever was and possibly the largest castle on earth at that time. Studies have concluded the Main Keep (Tenshu) was five-stories high or 59 meters high (the height of a modern 18-story apartment block). The total area of the castle encompassed an area roughly 181 acres in size, twice the size of Osaka castle. The original Main Keep site was in the East Gardens and some of the stone foundations are still there to this day.
1657: Unfortunately, only 19 years later, the Main Keep & the buildings of several enclosures burnt down in the 1657 Meireki fire, a fire that destroyed 60-70% of Edo (old Tokyo).
1863: Again, major fires destroyed many of the larger structures of the old castle.
1868: The Shogunate, controlled by the Tokugawa Clan, fell to forces supporting the Emperor at the battle of Fall of Edo in the Boshin War (a civil war in Japan between the Shogunate and those wanting to reinstate the Emperor). The Shogun was made to leave the Castle and the Emperor arrived and took residence on 26 November 1868. The city was renamed Tokyo.
1868 - 1912: During the Meiji period, most of the remaining structures from old Edo Castle were destroyed by various fires, earthquakes and purposely destroyed to make land available for more for modern buildings.
1945, May 25: most structures of the Imperial Palace (new and old) were destroyed in the Allied firebombing raid on Tokyo.
1960s: A new main palace hall and residences were constructed. These are most of the building you see today.
2004: A group called "Rebuilding Edo-jo Association" is pushing to rebuild the original Main Keep that burt down in 1657. Politics, emotions and money have stalled the project.