Ninomaru garden
Pond and small waterfall.
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · User:Piotrus — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pavel from Sydney, AU — CC BY 2.0 · Ethan Doyle White — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chris 73 — CC BY-SA 3.0
Historic gardens within the Imperial Palace grounds in central Tokyo, on the site of Edo Castle, seat of the Tokugawa shōguns. They take in the castle's old circles of defence: the honmaru (inner), ninomaru (second) and sannomaru (third). Visitors enter through old castle gates, including the Ōte-mon, once the main gate of Edo Castle, and walk between massive stone walls and moats up to the base of the castle's main keep, of which only the stone foundation remains. The highlight is the Ninomaru Japanese garden, with its pond, stone bridge, small waterfall, pines and azaleas, along with wide lawns and a grove of trees from all over Japan. From around the palace there are views of the famous Nijūbashi bridge over the moat. Entry is free with no booking. The gardens close on Mondays and Fridays, from 28 December to 3 January and for some court functions, and open from 9:00 until 16:00-18:00 depending on the season, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
Pond and small waterfall.
Huge stones and moats.
Over the moat.
Imperial Palace, Chiyoda ward, near Tokyo Station
The East Gardens are open free with no booking; they close on Mondays and Fridays and open from 9:00 until 16:00-18:00 depending on the season, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
