Tokyo

15 Best Imperial Palace Tours

This list untangles the confusing part of visiting the Imperial Palace: the inner grounds open only on guided tours, while the East Gardens welcome anyone. The site served as the shogun’s Edo Castle for over 250 years, and the moats, stone walls and guard towers survive from that era. Guided slots cap out daily, so book before you fly.

1.Tokyo: Imperial Palace and Shogun Historical Walking Tour

Discover Tokyo’s imperial past with this small-group walking tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens, guided by experts for an authentic experience.

Most Popular★ 5.0

“We had an absolutely amazing time with Tony. He shared a lot of rich context about Tokyo’s history, the Edo period, the Shogunate, the Emperor, and the imperial family, which made the experience incredibly meaningful. Visiting the Imperial Read more”

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2.Tokyo Castle: Imperial Palace, Shogun & Garden Walking Tour

Explore Tokyo's Imperial Palace and gardens on a small-group walking tour led by passionate guides, blending history, scenery, and authentic culture in 2 hours.

★ 4.9

“This was an interesting tour, and the guide, Shin, was fantastic. It was a great overview of Tokyo's history during the Edo period. Shin was extremely knowledgeable and his English was exceptionally good, which made for a great experience.”

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3.Tokyo: Imperial Palace & Tokyo Castle History Walking Tour

Explore Tokyo’s imperial history and Edo Castle’s secrets on this guided walking tour, featuring stunning gardens, historical insights, and authentic Japanese culture.

★ 4.7

“This was a beautiful tour guided by Anju, who was wonderful at leading us and telling us the history of the palace grounds and the Edo Period.”

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5.Tokyo Castle & Imperial Palace , Historical Walking Tour

Just when you thought you'd seen all of Tokyo's wonders, this captivating historical walking tour unveils the iconic landmarks that have shaped the city's legacy.

★ 5.0

“Anju gave us a wonderful and insightful tour. It was beautiful and enjoyable and educational! Loved learning the history and seeing the gorgeous sights.”

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6.Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Tour

Uncover the secrets of Tokyo's past at the Imperial Palace East Garden and Edo Castle, where history meets nature in a captivating journey.

★ 5.0

“A wonderful tour walking around the gardens of the Imperial Palace. Glenda was fabulous and very knowledgeable about the history. The gardens were so stunning. A really enjoyable experience”

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7.Tokyo: Shogun Tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens

Discover the history of Japan’s shogunate and Edo Castle with this engaging walking tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens in Tokyo. Perfect for history buffs and culture lovers alike.

★ 4.8

“Mei was so informative and funny. She was a brilliant tour guide and we learnt a lot. The walk round was really lovely and it was an excellent tour. Highly recommended!”

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8.Tokyo: Imperial Palace, Sens-ji Temple, & Tokyo Tower Tour

Explore Tokyo’s top sights—Imperial Palace, Sens-ji Temple, and Tokyo Tower—on this eco-friendly tour that combines convenience, expert guides, and authentic views.

★ 4.5

“This tour fulfilled my desire to see the Imperial Palace, Sensō-ji Temple, & Tokyo Tower. The transportation was comfortable and I'm satisfied with the value of the tour. Atsushi was an informative guide. He did well pacing the tour and including everyone in the group.”

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9.Tokyo: Imperial Palace // A Walk Through Japanese History

Transport through time at Tokyo's Imperial Palace, where Japan's rich history unfolds with every step - a journey you won't want to miss!

★ 5.0

“We had a great time on this tour with our guide, Natsumi. She was so lovely and provided so much information about the palace and the related history. We definitely got more out of this experience because of her than had we just walked around…”

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10.Tokyo: Imperial Palace Shogun Historical Walking Tour

Your journey through Japan's imperial history begins at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, where a captivating 2-hour walking tour unveils the serene gardens and cultural treasures that have defined the country's royal legacy.

★ 5.0

“Lakki was a great tour guide. He has a wealth of knowledge about shogun history. We learned so much. The Imperial Palace gardens are beautiful! This tour is worth taking.”

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11.5-Hour Tokyo Historical Bike Tour Through Imperial Palace & Tsukiji

Discover the rich history of Tokyo on a thrilling 5-hour bike tour. Uncover hidden gems and explore iconic landmarks like the Imperial Palace and Tsukiji. Book now!

★ 5.0

“First off it was hot and humid but that didn’t stop us from having an amazing time with Shogun our guide. He was great and had a wealth of knowledge about Tokyo. We went to to places we would never have found on our own.…”

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12.Tokyo: East Garden of the Imperial Palace with History Guide

Discover Tokyo’s Imperial Palace East Gardens with an expert guide. Enjoy stunning scenery, historical insights, and a peaceful walk for authentic Japanese culture.

★ 4.7

“Our guide Shigheru was really well prepared. He have us a general overviewnof Japaneae history before entering the gardens and then drive us in this experience adding a lot of particolare and curiosities about Japnese culture. It has been a preside spending these 2 Hours…”

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13.Tokyo: Walking Tour of the Imperial Palace, Shoguns, and Garden

Discover Tokyo’s Imperial Palace and gardens on a 2-hour guided tour in French, combining history, stunning scenery, and authentic insights from passionate guides.

★ 5.0

“Visite guidée en français incontournable pour comprendre l’histoire du Japon, sa culture et nous aider à décoder le fonctionnement des japonais. Un énorme merci à Alexandre pour toutes les explications très claires qu’il nous a apporté au fur et mesure de la visite que nous…”

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14.Imperial Palace History Private Walking Tour at Chiyoda

Take a step back in time with the Imperial Palace History Private Walking Tour at Chiyoda, where each corner holds a tantalizing tale waiting to be discovered.

★ 5.0

“We had a two-hour private tour with Naoko around the beautiful and historic Imperial Palace east gardens. Naoko was lively, engaging and very informative about the history and culture of Japan. She was very professional but also friendly. It was such a pleasure learning from…”

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5.0Full Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree$39.00 5.0Tokyo: Imperial Palace-Unveiling Emperors & Samurai Stories2 hours$16 4.8Tokyo: Private Tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens2 hours$63 5.0Tokyo Imperial Palace with Kagurazaka Alley Tour$52.84 4.5Tokyos Imperial Palace & Nihonbashi Tour$101.72 5.0Tokyo Imperial Palace Historical Walk and Food Tasting Tour2 hours$19 5.0Private Tour – History, Art and Nature at the Imperial Palace$90.60 5.0Tokyo: Imperial Palace East Gardens and Tokyo Station Tour2.5 hours$38 4.4Tokyo: Edo Castle Ruins & Imperial Palace East Garden Tour2 hours$37 4.5Chiyoda Imperial Palace Walking Tour$43.11 5.0Imperial Palace Tour: Discover Samurai History with a Guide1.5 hours$24 5.0Tokyo: Imperial Palace, Edo Castle and Historical Tour1.5 hours$22 4.3Tokyo: Imperial Palace with Nostalgic Alley Kagurazaka tour3.5 hours$51 5.0Tokyo: Edo Castle and Imperial Palace Guided Walking Tour2.5 hours$3.22 5.0Imperial Palace to Tokyo Station Historical Walking Tour$39.09 4.0Imperial Palace and Political Landmarks The Heart of Tokyo Tour$65.00 5.0From the Imperial Palace to Odaiba : Time travel to Tokyo$91.21 5.0Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour$3.25 5.0Imperial Palace and Heritage of Edo Castle Private Tour$83.24 5.0Tokyo walking tour around Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station2 hours$49 5.0Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa, and Imperial Palace 1/2-Day Private Tour$149.57 4.0Audio Guide Tour in The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace$7.11 3.0Tokyo: Edo Castle Ruins & Imperial Palace East Garden Guided Tour$38.48 4.0Audio Guide Tour of Tokyo Imperial Palace$7.12