Tokyo Castle, Imperial Palace, Shogun & Garden Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Join one of Tokyo’s highest rated walking tours! Together we will explore the Imperial Palace and its beautiful Eastern Gardens with our super friendly local guide :) You won’t just hear about Japan’s history, you’ll feel it come alive through stories, humor, and moments that make this place unforgettable :) Our guides are known for their warmth, energy, and genuine passion for sharing Tokyo’s past, that’s why our guests keep calling this tour “the highlight of their trip!”
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Small group for a more exclusive experience
Learn Japan’s history while having fun!
No dress code, tattoos welcome
Guided walking tour of the Imperial Palace grounds with a friendly local guide
Visit to Ōtemon Gate, guardhouse ruins and Ninomaru Garden
We know the best photo spots (just ask your guide)
Stories from guide about Edo history, samurai era and modern Tokyo
Access to the Inner Palace (note: not open to the public)
What To Expect
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace - Edo Castle Ruin
Begin your walking tour by meeting your guide at starbucks in the Wadakuramon park! Together, stroll toward the grand main gate (otemon) of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. As you step through, follow your guide on a captivating journey, circling the palace grounds/eastern garden! (The actual main castle does not exist anymore..BUT for a very good reason your guide will tell you all about on the tour! You will also get to see a miniature structure of how the palace used to look like in the past as well) Explore the history embedded in old soldier barracks, encounter special koi fish, and marvel at trees brought from various prefectures of Japan. Delight in the serenity of the palace while gaining insights into its past, including a visit to the old base where the palace once stood over 350 years ago. While the palace can be tricky to navigate, your guide will ensure you don’t get lost and help you take photos throughout the tour :)
Wadakura Fountain Park
Begin your walking tour by meeting your guide at starbucks in the Wadakuramon park! Together, stroll toward the grand main gate (otemon) of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. As you step through, follow your guide on a captivating journey, circling the palace grounds/eastern garden! (The actual main castle does not exist anymore..BUT for a very good reason your guide will tell you all about on the tour! You will also get to see a miniature structure of how the palace used to look like in the past as well) Explore the history embedded in old soldier barracks, encounter special koi fish, and marvel at trees brought from various prefectures of Japan. Delight in the serenity of the palace while gaining insights into its past, including a visit to the old base where the palace once stood over 350 years ago. While the palace can be tricky to navigate, your guide will ensure you don’t get lost and help you take photos throughout the tour :)
Options
Tokyo: Imperial Palace // A Walk Through Japanese History
Reviews
167 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Shins Tour experience
jamesbN8315OX,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shin was an amazing and very knowledgeable tour guide of the imperial palace grounds, he showed us all the best spots, and some awesome photo spots! The English tour was very clear, and I could understand everything said! Highly recommended
5/5 tour
V4671CBpeterh,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really great and informative tour from Shin. Highly recommend. Took us around the imperial palace gardens while explaining the history of the shogun and imperial family.
A nice gentle walk with historical insights
Jevon L,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was the only one on my tour, but it still went ahead so ended up as a private tour! Friendly guide was fun to talk with, and the walk through the gardens was an enjoyable experience.
Amazing guide. Thank you Shin!
Travel53298801222,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shin’s Imperial Palace & Shogun History walking tour was exactly what I needed—and honestly, the best guided experience I’ve had in Japan. I had been feeling pretty disillusioned after a previous tour with a different company where the guide felt unprepared and disengaged. Joining Shin’s tour completely changed that. From the start, he was organized, clear, and incredibly knowledgeable, but what really stood out was how he brought history to life in a way that was easy to follow and genuinely engaging. He didn’t just list dates and names; he explained the context of the shogunate, the role of the Imperial Palace, and the tension and balance between power and tradition in a way that made everything click. The pacing was perfect—no rushing, no dragging—and he was attentive to the group, checking in, answering questions thoughtfully, and making sure everyone could hear and see. Thanks to Shin, I not only learned a lot, but I regained confidence in booking tours in Japan. If you’re interested in history or just want a deeper understanding of what you’re seeing (instead of just taking photos and moving on), I highly recommend this tour—and especially Shin as your guide.
Fantastic tour!
gwendolyns595,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an absolutely fantastic tour. Our tour guide, Shin, went above and beyond as a guide. Shin communicated centuries of complex history in a way that was both informative and easy to understand. He has an extreme depth of knowledge, portraying not just the palace and Tokugawa Shogunate, but the ways in which places and events are connected to the entire history and culture of Japan. I learned a tremendous amount on this tour, and am very grateful to Shin for sharing his expertise with us.
Nice tour / great guide Shin
998marinad,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved the tour. Our guide Shin was amazing, you can feel the love of history that he has and he share it with us in a great way. He even took the time to show some of us how to go where we needed to be next.
Super Shin
GrandTour67640542701,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shin was a great tour guide! The tour was very interesting and a great experience; would thoroughly recommend Shin as a guide
Interesting
blathnaido144,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was fantastic. Our tour guide, Shin, was very knowledgeable and could answer all our questions. Would definitely recommend.
Lovely views and information
Q2746GUkatherinet,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shin was awesome and very informative, he shared many stories. I recommend this tour very much and the scenery was beautiful in November.
Joe was Great
lukerU2561EA,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Joe was great - I would definitely recommend this tour. He was very interesting and insightful - also gave lots of tips for Tokyo which was ace
From ¥4,800
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