Dec 6, 2012 - 1 min read

Tokyo's Imperial Palace East Garden

A soothing green space in the heart of the city

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

The castle walls were fortified with a number of watchtowers

A reflection in the pond

The garden is inside the moat and walls of the former Edo Castle

Before you get into the garden itself there's the spacious Imperial Plaza

You wouldn't know you're just ten minutes from Tokyo's bustling station and neighbouring business district

Now that's what I call peaceful

This lantern has probably been here for hundreds of years

A handful of staff patrol the garden unobtrusively on their bicycles

As well as the castle remains there are a few other traditional buildings

On the straight and narrow

A view over the trees to Marunouchi's skyscrapers

Autumn colors on the lawn in the upper part of the garden

Enclosed by the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, the east garden is an oasis of greenery right next to Tokyo's Marunouchi business district. There are impressive stone walls and watchtowers, remains of the former Edo Castle, a beautifully landscaped garden designed around a calm pond, a small museum displaying art from the Imperial collection, and a rise giving an impressive view of the Marunouchi skyline.

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Find out more about Imperial Palace.

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Peter Sidell

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

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Olga

Olga 9 years ago

I like this garden very much! Thanks for the great photos!

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Peter Sidell

Peter Sidell Photographer 9 years ago

Thank you Olga! Glad you like the pictures. I went over there early one morning, after I'd been stranded in Tokyo the night before following a night out :)

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