Imperial Palace East Gardens Accessibility Guide

Overview

The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) are the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defense, now open to the public as a free garden. The gardens cover about 21 hectares and include the Honmaru (main keep) area, Ninomaru Garden, and remnants of Edo Castle's stone walls and moats. About 90% of the gardens are accessible to wheelchair users, though steep slopes in the Honmaru area and unpaved sections in the Ninomaru Garden present challenges.

Getting There

• Metro: Otemachi Station (Chiyoda, Marunouchi, Tozai, Hanzomon, and Toei Mita Lines) has elevator access and is closest to the Otemon Gate (main entrance), about a 5-minute roll on flat, paved sidewalks.
• Metro: Takebashi Station (Tozai Line) is closest to the Kitahanebashimon Gate.
• JR: Tokyo Station (Marunouchi North Exit) is about a 10-minute roll to Otemon Gate along flat, paved sidewalks.
• Approach: All routes from nearby stations to the garden gates are flat and fully paved with dropped curbs.

Wheelchair Accessibility

• Wheelchairs are available for free loan at all three entrance gates: Otemon, Hirakawamon, and Kitahanebashimon. First-come, first-served.
• The main paths throughout the gardens are paved and relatively flat, making them accessible for wheelchair users.
• The Honmaru area (where the castle keep foundation stands) has steep slopes that are very difficult for manual wheelchair users to navigate alone. The Shiomizaka and Bairinzaka slopes are not considered accessible.
• The Tenshudai (castle keep foundation) is at the top of a steep incline and is not accessible for most wheelchair users.
• The Ninomaru Garden has sections with rough, unpaved paths and some areas with caution signs for wheelchair users.
• The main loop path through the gardens is mostly accessible, but many secondary paths have gravel or packed earth surfaces.

Accessible Toilets

Five accessible toilets are located throughout the gardens. Rest facilities with benches are available at three locations. The accessible toilets are equipped with grab bars and have sufficient turning space.

Tips for Visitors with Disabilities

• Enter through Otemon Gate for the flattest initial approach. This is the main entrance and has the widest paved paths leading into the garden.
• The lower sections of the gardens near the entrance are the most accessible. The terrain becomes steeper as you move toward the Honmaru keep area.
• The gardens are closed on Mondays and Fridays. Check the Imperial Household Agency website for additional closure dates.
• A free volunteer guide service is available. Wheelchair-accessible tours of the Imperial Palace grounds can be arranged through the Tokyo Volunteer Guides program.
• Bring water, as vending machines are limited inside the gardens. There are vending machines near the Otemon Gate area.
• The gardens are especially beautiful during cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and autumn foliage season (late November to early December). These are also the busiest periods.