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
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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 431 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Alexandrina_B, Aug 2026
Grant was knowledgeable, considerate answering all questions. Very patient with eat member of the group.
Keenan_M, Aug 2026
Visiting the Imperial Castle was very fun and our guide was very informative on the historical significance of it's design and functionality.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks for this fun review :)
So glad the historical significance of the design and functionality came through so well during the tour. Thanks so much for sharing this :)
Matthew_G, Jul 2026
Awesome walk through the Imperial Gardens with our knowledgeable guide from the US (who has been living in Japan for 20+ years).
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks for this review :)
So glad the walk through the Imperial Gardens felt so great, and that your guide's knowledge, built from over 20 years living in Japan, came through so well :)
Justin_V, Jul 2026
Great tour learned some of the history of Japan! Guide was knowledgeable and very friendly and it was nice to walk through the gardens.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this review :)
So glad you learned some Japanese history on the tour, and that your guide was knowledgeable and friendly with such a nice walk through the gardens. Thanks so much for the kind words :)
Eugene_T, Jul 2026
Shinnosuke was great tour guide. He gave a great history background about the royal family and symbolism of the castle. He gave detailed history accounts and the importance of signature locations of the grounds around the castle. Despite the heat, Shinnosuke was very patience with us and informative along the way, as well as very considerate. For those who need an English tour guide he is your man. I would highly recommend him.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this review :)
So glad Shinnosuke gave such a detailed history of the royal family and the castle's symbolism, and that his patience and consideration came through despite the heat. Thank you for highly recommending him, especially for those looking for an English speaking guide :)
Myriem_R, Jul 2026
Great experience with Jim today! He was very kind, patient and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend him and we will book with him again!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for this review :)
So glad Jim was kind, patient and knowledgeable during your experience. Thank you for recommending him, and we'd love to have you book with him again :)
Benjamin_K, Jul 2026
Fey was wonderful, very attentive and polite
Her explanation was very detailed
We highly recommend her :)
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much this sweet review and your nice recommendation, it truly means a lot :)
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!
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