Tokyo Castle, Imperial Palace, Shogun & Garden Walking Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Tokyo, Japan
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
Exploring Tokyo’s Imperial Palace can be overwhelming without extensive research, but this guided tour simplifies everything. Enjoy a relaxed stroll through stunning gardens, discover the palace's rich history, and get insider tips on the best photo spots. With a guide leading the way, you can effortlessly immerse yourself in Japan’s cultural and historical treasures.
- Explore the grounds of the Imperial Palace with a guide
- Group size, with a limit of just Fifteen travelers
- Learn fascinating insights about Japan’s history
- Benefit from having someone to lead the way so you don’t get lost
What's Included
- Guided walking tour of the Imperial Palace grounds with a friendly local guide
- Small group for a more exclusive experience
- Visit to Ōtemon Gate, guardhouse ruins and Ninomaru Garden
- Stories from guide about Edo history, samurai era and modern Tokyo
- We know the best photo spots (just ask your guide)
- No dress code, tattoos welcome
- Learn Japan’s history while having fun!
- Access to the Inner Palace (note: not open to the public)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Starbucks Coffee - Kokyo Gaien Wadakura Fountain Park3-1 Kōkyogaien, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0002, Japan
Take the train to Tokyo station, from there it is only a 5-10 minute walk to the Wadakuramon fountain park. In the park, head to the Starbucks where your guide will be waiting for you. The guide will be holding a sign with "Sunrise Adventure´s" logo :)
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace - Edo Castle Ruin
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Wadakura Fountain Park (Pass By)
Wadakuramon (Pass By)
Remains of Wadakuramon Gate Guardhouse (Pass By)
Crown Prince Marriage Monument (Pass By)
Imperial Palace (Pass By)
Kokyo Gaien National Garden (Pass By)
Kokyo Otemon Gate (Pass By)
Kokyo Sannomaru Shozokan (Pass By)
Ninomaru Garden (Pass By)
Kokyo Sannomaru Shozokan (Pass By)
Hyakunin Bansho Guardhouse (Pass By)
Chiyoda (Pass By)
Tokyo (Pass By)
Tayasumon Yagura (Pass By)
Kikyo Gate (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 392 reviews
Shirley_M, Jul 2026
Our guide, Mika, was terrific! She taught us a lot about Edo history. The gardens were beautiful. She was so accommodating with my elderly parents. We loved the little extra list of common Japanese phrases. Very helpful!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Mika and learning about Edo history. It's wonderful to know that the gardens, the historical insights, and the list of useful Japanese phrases added to your experience. :) We hope to welcome you and your family again on a future visit to Japan!
Martin_H, Jun 2026
Great tour, very informative. Would recommend to anyone who visits Tokyo. Definitely worth the money.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing review! We are so glad you had such a great time!
Matt_D, Jun 2026
What a great walking tour of the imperial grounds. Beautiful gardens plus a dive into Edo history. Our guide Yu was a delight. This is a great way to spend a few hours in Tokyo.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review :) We're really happy to hear you enjoyed the walk through the Imperial grounds and the glimpse into Edo history. It’s great to know Yu helped make the experience even more enjoyable. We're glad you had a wonderful few hours in Tokyo!
Michael_S, Jun 2026
Nicolas Kumano was our tour guide and he was amazing. If you like hearing about the Imperial Palace and its history then this tour is for you. We are from Florida and Nicolas spoke English. He was extremely knowledgable of the Japanese culture. You will walk about 1.5 miles which isn't a lot. He also helped us get a taxi at the end. Thank you Nicolas!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review :) We're really happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Nico! It's great that his knowledge of Japanese history and culture, as well as his support at the end of the tour, helped make your experience smooth and enjoyable. We're glad you had a great time exploring the Imperial Palace area with us!
Gunjan_T, Jun 2026
Interesting and helpful to have a tour guide and recommend getting a guide. Having the full immersion was good, probably the whole tour could have been 90 min max
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback :) We're glad you found the guided experience valuable and enjoyed the immersive aspect of the tour. Thanks again for joining us!
Robert_M, May 2026
Yu, our tour guide, was a very knowledgeable and engaging guide. She made our tour most enjoyable and was responsive to our interests and questions. I highly recommend this tour
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much :) We'll make sure Yu sees this. She loves sharing her knowledge and tailoring the experience to her guests, so we're sure she'll be delighted to know you had such an enjoyable time!
Elizabeth_R, May 2026
This guide was incredibly hospitable and very knowledgeable. It was a great tour and we appreciated his historical facts and visuals. Very easy to speak with and helpful in terms of what are the best things to do.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for this review, it means a lot to us :)
Mark_W, May 2026
Jim was an awesome guide, full of insights and historical perspectives. Great tour. Would recommend a tour with Jim to anyone.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind feedback :) We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Jim and appreciated his knowledge and historical insights. We’ll be sure to share your lovely message with him :) Thank you again for your recommendation and for joining our tour!
Daniel_D, May 2026
We had Shin for our tour guide and he was fantastic. He gave us all the history related to the imperial palace making everything we saw more impressive. I would recommend booking this tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review :)
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Shin and that his explanations helped bring the Imperial Palace history to life!
Thank you again for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again someday! :)
William_Z, May 2026
Great historical background and explanation of history of Japan. Tour guide very knowledgeable. Very beautiful area. Tour was time well spent.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you much for this amazing review! We are so glad you had such a great time! :)
Robert_S, May 2026
What an excellent, history-rich introduction to the Tokyo Castle, Imperial Palace, Shogun, and Garden Walking Tour! Our guide was incredibly informative and knowledgeable about the architecture and history, particularly focusing on the Edo Era. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and gained valuable insights into the history of the castle and the overall history of Japan and its imperial structure and the beautiful imperial garden. She also offered recommendations on what to do and experience in Tokyo. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, May 2026
We’re so happy you enjoyed the tour and all the history around the Imperial Palace and Edo period. It’s great to hear the insights and recommendations made your experience even more special. :)
Thanks again for the recommendation, and hope to see you again soon!
AMIT_B, May 2026
The tour is good, our guide Faye was great, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The grounds are very beautiful. The only thing is that it might have been better in spring with flowers blooming. Overall we enjoyed and recommend it.
Response from Host, May 2026
We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Fei and appreciated her friendly and knowledgeable guiding!
And you’re absolutely right, the gardens are especially beautiful in spring but we’re glad you still had a great time. :)
Thank you for the recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
William_B, Apr 2026
Jim made this tour exceptional with his extensive knowledge and deep understanding of history. We learned so much about Japan and truly appreciated the way he presented everything—it was clear, engaging, and easy to follow.
Without him, we wouldn’t have fully understood what we were seeing. If you want to actually learn the history behind the sites, this tour is absolutely worth it.
Highly recommend—and definitely ask for Jim. He’s a great guide.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review :)
We’re truly touched by your kind words, and we’re so happy to hear that you had such a meaningful experience with Jim. His passion for history and the way he brings it to life really make a difference, so it means a lot to know it resonated with you.
We’ll be sure to pass along your message to him, he’ll be delighted :)
It was a real pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you again for another great experience in Japan!
Sharon_J, Apr 2026
Very knowledgeable guide. Beautiful surroundings. Tranquil walking tour. A quiet space in the middle of a lively city.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much :)
We’re really happy you enjoyed the guide and the peaceful surroundings. It’s great to hear the tour felt like a calm escape in the middle of the city !
Dianne_M, Apr 2026
Wonderful history, leisurely pace and lovely back and forth with tour group. Highly recommend as start to ur trip
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much! :)
We’re so glad you enjoyed the history, the pace, and the group interaction. That’s exactly the kind of experience we hope to provide, so happy it was a great start to your trip!
Pat_B, Apr 2026
Google maps and iPhone maps a must! Meet up instructions were clear but a couple of tips...you are heading to the west side gate...look for Marunouchi side toward imperial palace. You cross the small bridge into the palace area and yes, there is Starbuck's in there. Shin was our guide and met us outside and took the time to get to know us before we started. He is a great guide, knowledgeable, personalable and worked with everyone in the group. He went above and beyond to keep us between the rain and made sure we saw the sights, including cherry blossoms. One of the top guides we have had. Thanks!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Wow, thank you so much for this wonderful feedback! :)
We’re truly thrilled to hear you had such a great experience with Shin and that he could make the tour personal and enjoyable, even with the rain. It’s also amazing that you added those extra tips for future guests, super helpful! Your kind words really mean a lot to us and make us so happy!
Greg_B, Mar 2026
Amazing gardens & history. Cherry blossoms at the moment are incredible. The guide had a wide knowledge of the palace
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
We’re really happy you enjoyed the gardens, the cherry blossoms, and the guide’s knowledge. And next time, we’ll do our best to earn that 5th star from you ;)
Annie_B, Mar 2026
Our walking tour of the Imperial Palace (Tokyo) was wonderful. Our amazing tour guide, Mayu, shared historical and current facts with us. She was very informative. She took her time to answer questions our group had regarding the palace. We give her a 10 !
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time exploring the Imperial Palace with Mayu. It’s lovely to know you enjoyed her insights and that she made the experience both informative and engaging.
We’ll be sure to share your “10” with her, she’ll be absolutely delighted! :)
Christopher_H, Mar 2026
Mayu was a fantastic and knowledgeable tour guide. She was very approachable and welcoming of our questions. Her English is excellent!! Tour was well paced and the Palace grounds are well maintained and beautiful. I hope to see it again one day when later into spring with everything blooming.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour with Mayu and appreciated her knowledge and warm approach. We hope you’ll come back to see the gardens in full bloom next time 🌸
Mena, Mar 2026
Alex was great!! Very knowledgeable!! Loved it!! I would recommend this tour as the gardens were amazing! Buildings were impressive.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you!!!! We’re so happy to hear you had such a great time with Alex and enjoyed the beauty of the gardens and the impressive buildings. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us! :)
Sundeep_S, Mar 2026
Nico was absolutely fantastic. He was engaging, interesting anecdotes and not at all rushed. Incredibly knowledgeable and made the history of Tokyo really come to life. I would strongly recommend
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Your review means a lot to us! Thank you so much, we are so glad you had so much fun exploring the Imperial Palace gardens while learning more about Japan with Nico! :)
Mark_H, Mar 2026
Alexander was fantastic! Provide such great information Japanese history to put everything in perspective. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much, your feedback truly means a lot to us! We wish you an amazing stay in Japan! :)
karen_m, Mar 2026
The guide provides a complete history of the samurai, shoguns and royal family. He is fluent in English, and it is an easy going tout
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing feedback!
arnold_N, Mar 2026
Great history tour. The place was beautiful and the garden was peaceful and zen like. Nikko was fantastic.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much, we are so glad you had such a great time :)
Alya_P, Feb 2026
Loved our guide and learned so much history about the place. The tour definitely made me appreciate the place a lot more!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for this lovely review! It means a lot to us :)
Thomas_B, Jan 2026
The tour was excellent. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and had great answers to many of our questions. The only hesitation I have is that there just isn't much to see, because they never rebuilt after it was destroyed. So while an excellent tour, perhaps not a top priority for your first time in tokyo
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and that your guide’s knowledge and thoughtful answers made it a great experience. We also appreciate your honest perspective about the site itself. It’s true that its value lies more in the history and context than in what can be physically seen today. Your feedback is very helpful, and we’re grateful you joined us!
Yvette_W, Jan 2026
Mika was our wonderful and pleasant tour guide for the morning tour. She was engaging and kept the interest of my 11, 13, and 15 year old boys with a lot of Japanese historical references. We learned a lot while exploring the beautiful grounds. She took good family photos and recommended a delicious local soba spot for lunch. It was a memorable morning to end our Japan trip.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really happy to hear you and your boys enjoyed the tour with Mika. She’ll be so glad to know she helped make your last morning in Japan special. Wishing you a great journey home, and hopefully we’ll see you again one day!
Jordan_S, Nov 2025
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 by ourselves. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Your feedback is really amazing! Thanks a lot for taking the time to share your experience! Thank you for the recommendation too! :)
Peace_S, Oct 2025
Our guide Natsume was very knowledgeable about edo period history and led us through the absolutely stunning imperial gardens. She was also kind enough to share her knowledge of local restaurants and shrines. Very good tour that I would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your feedback and recommandation! This is so nice that Natsumi could share her tips in addition to the tour! We wish you a wonderful stay in Japan !
Susan_L, Oct 2025
Very educational and a pace that allowed for questions and pictures. Guide was excellent and easy to understand. Most tours do not include entrance to the actual palace grounds- this tour does and it’s definitely worth it.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Susan, your feedback means a lot, and we’re so glad it made your visit memorable! Thank you so much for your kind words!
From $37.73
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Tokyo Castle, Imperial Palace, Shogun & Garden Walking Tour
391
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$37.73
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
Attractions in Tokyo, Japan
- Tsukishima Monja Street Tours & Tickets
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Tours & Tickets
- Cat Street Tokyo Tours & Tickets
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Tours & Tickets
- Aokigahara Forest Tours & Tickets
- Roppongi Tours & Tickets
- Yasukuni Shrine (Yasukuni Jinja) Tours & Tickets
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa Temple) Tours & Tickets
- Tokyo Skytree Tours & Tickets
- Kappabashi (Kitchen Town) Tours & Tickets
- National Diet Building Tours & Tickets
- teamLab Planets TOKYO Tours & Tickets
- Tokyo Solamachi Tours & Tickets