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Imperial Palace The Imperial Palace is still home to the Japanese emperor and the imperial family - and has been since Tokyo became the political and imperial capital in 1868 - so your visit will have to be limited to the general surrounding areas and gardens. New Year's Day and the Emperor's birthday - 23 December - are the only exceptions, when the palace opens its doors to the public. The main attraction in the palace is Edo-jo castle. It dates from the 17th century and was used as the unassailable fortress of the ruling shogunate. The castle has been modified and updated over the years with, at one time, seemingly continuous renovations taking place. At one time it was the biggest castle in the world but it was heavily damaged during the transfer of power from shogun back to the emperor during the Meiji Restoration. The garden is a welcome oasis of calm after the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, with a typically Japanese atmosphere; with a horizon of perfectly clear lines, astonishing attention to detail and reverent placement of religious objects within the landscape. You get to The Imperial East Garden through one of the three gates, the most popular of these being the Ote-mon, which was once the main gate of Edo-jo. |