15 Imperial Palace Tours in Tokyo, Compared

1.Imperial Palace and Shogun Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,251 reviews · from $22Our pick

Walk Tokyo’s Imperial Palace East Gardens with a guide who connects Edo Castle’s stone walls, gates, keep foundation, and Ninomaru Garden to the shoguns and imperial family. The tour lasts about two hours, with groups capped at 15. Guides such as Jim, Blake, Miguel, and Tony have led it, though your guide may differ.

“Aya is very generous with information and really wants to have an impact on visitors so that they leave feeling they have had a personal connection to Japan. She was so patient in explaining everything to us and the meaning behind everything in the Senso-ji Temple and its history. She has a gift of making its significance connect back to each visitor. She taught me how to make a wish and properly pray in the temple too. Priceless! Thank you Aya!”

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2.Imperial Palace Japanese History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 987 reviews · from $32

Join an English- or French-speaking guide at Wadakuramon fountain park for a walk through the Imperial Palace East Gardens. See Otemon Gate, Edo Castle remains, a scale model, samurai-era features, bamboo and koi, while hearing how Japan changed from shogunate to imperial rule. The inner palace is closed to the public.

“Our tour guide was wonderful. She had a sign so we knew exactly who she was. She gave us some small gifts which were perfect for this heat! During the tour she spoke loud enough everyone could hear, was mindful of the heat and tried as much as possible to stop in the shade when available. She gave great information about the history of Japan and the palace! Highly recommend this tour!!”

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3.Imperial Palace and Shogun Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 935 reviews · 2 hours · from $16

For $16, spend two hours with an English-speaking guide in the Imperial Palace East Gardens, once the grounds of Edo Castle. You’ll pass imposing stone walls, a historic guardhouse, the castle tower base, and Ninomaru Garden, with its seasonal planting and koi ponds. Guides have included Tony, Blake, Jim, Embla, and Miguel, but assignments vary.

“Miguel was an amazing guide. He really know about the history of the Imperial Palace. I totally recommend this tour.”

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4.Imperial Palace East Garden and Edo Castle Walking Tour in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 510 reviews · from $25

Meet near Wadakura Fountain Park for a 2.5-hour walk through the Imperial Palace grounds and Edo Castle ruins. An English-speaking guide explains the site’s samurai, shogun, and imperial past. Guides have included Kenta, Glenda, Sato, and Kei, though your guide may vary. You do not enter palace buildings.

“This is an easy walking tour around the Palace grounds. Sato was an excellent guide. She gave us excellent historical perspectives. We highly recommend it.”

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5.Imperial Palace East Gardens Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 353 reviews · 2h 30m · from $19

Spend 150 minutes walking through the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the former grounds of Edo Castle. An English-speaking guide connects stone walls, gates, watch towers, and the Ninomaru Garden to the era of the Tokugawa shoguns. Guides vary by departure; names include Mei, Kei, and Wakana. The tour stays outside the palace itself.

“Tatsie was just lovely and gave us so much lightly imparted info on history, shogun, Japanese customs and of course the gardens. Highly recommend”

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6.Imperial Palace, Sensō-ji Temple, & Tokyo Tower Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 339 reviews · 4 hours · from $40

This four-hour afternoon tour links Tokyo’s Imperial Palace outer grounds, Sensō-ji and Nakamise Street, and Tokyo Tower’s 150-meter main observatory by hybrid bus. An English-speaking guide adds context along the way. You’ll have time to walk and browse at the stops, but the palace itself and East Gardens are not included.

“We enjoyed our tour very much. The only thing we would have wished for was more time at the attractions.”

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7.Tokyo Castle, Imperial Palace, Shogun & Garden Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · from $31

Meet your guide at Starbucks in Wadakura Fountain Park for a two-hour walk through the Imperial Palace East Gardens. See Ōtemon Gate, guardhouse ruins, Edo Castle remains, and Ninomaru Garden while hearing about shoguns, emperors, and modern Tokyo. Guides have included Natsumi, Mika, and Lakki. The inner palace is not part of the tour.

“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.”

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8.Edo Castle & East Garden of the Imperial Palace Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 112 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Wadakura Fountain Park fountain for a two-hour walk through the East Gardens, once part of Edo Castle. Guides such as Hitoshi, Naoko, and Masahito bring the site’s history to life with stories, photos, and cultural context. The garden is free to enter, so the $42 price pays for the guided experience, not palace access.

“Masahito was a nice guide that was excited to share Japan's culture and history. For the same price of this tour you can do a full day trip in Nikko or Mount Fuji, so I am not sure it is worth the price 😉”

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9.Tokyo Private Tour! Edo Castle & Imperial Palace East Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $65

Spend about two hours with a private guide in Tokyo’s Imperial Palace East Gardens. The walk covers the Edo Castle ruins, Ninomaru Garden and Ote-mon Gate, with time for questions and photos. Guides including Naoko, Shigeru, Mikio and Akiyoshi have led tours here. The gardens are open to the public; the tour does not enter the Inner Palace.

“This tour and our guide was fantastic, giving us a great understanding of Japanese tradition and the changes into modern day culture. Considering it was 35C the conditions were far from ideal, but we were provided with umbrellas and neck coolers to make our walk so much more comfortable.”

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10.Full Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · from $39

Start at Shibuya’s Hachiko statue, then travel by train and on foot to Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace exterior, Akihabara, Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree. An English- and Spanish-speaking guide leads the way; Skytree admission and train transfers are included. Choose the lunch option if you want a meal included.

“The places were very nice the tour guys were excellent and they were very helpful with everything you asked them”

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11.Imperial Palace, the history of Japan (ENGLISH GUIDE)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $40

Walk from Wadakuramon Fountain Park into the Imperial Palace’s eastern gardens with a guide, visiting the Otemon gate, former barracks, castle remains, special koi, and trees from across Japan. Nicolas, a Franco-Japanese guide, has led engaging history-focused tours. The language details conflict: the title says English, while the tour information says French, so confirm before booking.

“Toute la partie histoire le guide connaissait très bien sont sujet”

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12.Pvt. Tour – Edo Castle & Imperial Palace East Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 63 reviews · 2 hours · from $63

Spend two hours with a private English-speaking guide in the Imperial Palace East Gardens, built on the grounds of Edo Castle. See the historic Main Gate, castle walls and moats, then stroll through Ninomaru Garden. Guides have included Yoshi-san, Masahito, Mari and Yuji. The tour does not enter the Emperor’s residence.

“Our guide Maru was knowledgeable helpful and friendly. Highly recommend”

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13.Full Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 16 reviews · 7 hours · from $69

Start at Hachiko Statue, then cross Tokyo by train and on foot, from Shibuya and Meiji Shrine to the Imperial Palace, Akihabara and Asakusa. An English- and Spanish-speaking guide leads the seven-hour tour. Lunch and Tokyo Skytree entry are optional, so check your choices before booking.

“Our guide Oliver did an excellent job showing us around all the sights and because we were there on NYE we also got to see how the locals celebrate at the shrines an temples. Would recommend.”

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14.Imperial Palace East Gardens and Tokyo Station Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 2h 30m · from $38

In 150 minutes, walk from the Imperial Palace East Gardens to Tokyo Station with an English-speaking guide. See Edo Castle remains, Ninomaru Garden, Nijubashi views and Marunouchi’s modern architecture. Guide Yuki has been praised for clear, humorous explanations. The tour costs $38 per person and involves a moderate amount of walking.

“I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide Yuki-san told us many exiting facts about the castle in a way I can imagine what it was like 400 years ago.”

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15.Edo Castle Ruins & Imperial Palace East Garden Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 13 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Follow an English-speaking guide from the Wadakura Fountain to Edo Castle’s gates, guardhouses, keep site, and Ninomaru Garden. The fountain commemorates a royal wedding; the Tenshu-dai offers broad views, and the garden pond has koi. Guides have included Mari-san and Isao, though assignments can vary. Expect outdoor walking, not entry to the Imperial Palace buildings.

“C'était génial !! Nous avons appris plein de choses grâce à Mari san 😌 Nous recommandons cette activité !”

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