Imperial Palace

Tokyo's Imperial Palace stands on what was once the site of Edo castle and residence of the Tokugawa shogunate. While the East Garden is open to the general public throughout the year, visitors wanting to take a tour of the rest of the precincts must reserve in advance (see the English reservation site for details). Twice a year – on New Year's Day and December 23, the Emperor's birthday – the inner palace grounds are open to the public, who turn out en masse to be greeted from a balcony by the Imperial family.