Imperial Palace

- Chiyoda, Nijubashi Bridge, Guard tower, main gate, Kyuden

Imperial Palace (Kyūden) is where the emperor and the Imperial family lives. It is situated in the Chiyoda ward, near Tokyo Central Station and Marunochi district in the heart of Tokyo. The original building derives from the Edo period. This is the site where the Edo Palace was during the Edo period.

The area around the palace is huge with buildings, gardens and a moat that surround it. The area is only open to public on special days, so only a small part of the white exterior of the palace, the main gate, the guard tower and the historical Nijubashi Bridge, an ancient stone bridge, can be seen from outside. Guards watch it. Fukiage Ōmiya Palace is the palace where the Empress Dowager lived until her death in 2000. The avenues Uchibori dori and Hiniya dori runs between the skyscrapers of the Marunochi financial district and the borders to the Imperial Palace.

The residence of the current Emperor and empress is located in the Fukiage Gardens, a modern residence completed in 1993. Most strucutres from the Edo Castle disappeared during the Meiji era, cleared to make way for other buildings or detroyed by earthquakes and fire.