Shu and I had a wonderful short stay in Tokyo back in April of 2016 and in the midst of all the crazy bustle of this city we could find a place that transports us back in time to an era almost forgotten in modern Japan, but still alive in the memory of all of those who... for example... grew up watching on TV the English hero "Anjin-san" (Richard Chamberlain) in the classic series "Shogun", it's almost as if by magic we entered through a "time door", to face with the old Edo of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Around it, almost mockingly, stand the great mirrored skyscrapers of the Japanese capital they remain firm and stiff, reminding us immediately that we are actually in the twenty-first century.
Admition Ticket of the Gardens
The gardens of the Imperial Palace (東 御苑 御苑, Kōkyo Higashi Gyoen) are part of the inner palace area which is open to the public.
These were in the past part of the internal defense circles of the ancient castle of Edo, the honmaru ("main circle") and ninomaru ("secondary circle").
Unfortunately, none of the original main buildings (including the castle) exists today, but we can still glimpse the moats, some of the walls, as well the entrance gates and the various gatehouses that still remain on the site.
Guardhouse
Here, in this enchanted place, we can relax and let our imagination fly away, and "runaway at full speed", in a place where we can almost swear that we saw and even heard the accelerated steps of the old samurai running on top of the wooden decks and in the middle of the gravel on the ground, men always loyal to the lord of the castle, and that they surround us and look at us with curiosity and even apprehension, as if from a window from the past they were as surprised as we are with our mutual differences (and even so maybe not so many).
A place where the unparalleled beauty of nature contrasts with the crazy urban jungle of the modern Humans, where the singing of the little songbirds and the raucous cackling of crows make a strange symphony with the wheels of the cars that run outside in a constant routine.
Perhaps the words are few to describe the feelings, the noises and even the smells, maybe even the photographs taken can not show how special the place is, and most probably the number of tourists and visitors that surround us take away some of the charms from the place, but of course those feelings will remain as a pleasant memory that will last for many years to come, each photo, each video, will be like a long sigh to be able to return, as if by magic, to that day, where white flowers bloomed everywhere in the first heat of spring.
Below you will find information about the place and visits time. I hope that one day your stay can be as pleasant as ours was and if possible for you that you may share with us your experience.
Open:
From March 1 to April 14
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (entry up to 4:00 p.m.)
From April 15 to the end of August
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (entry up to 4:30 p.m.)
From September 1 to the end of October
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (entry up to 4:00 p.m.)
From November 1 to the end of February
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (entry up to 3:30 p.m.)
Closed:
The Garden is closed on the following days and occasions.
Every Monday and Friday (open on National Holiday except the Emperor's Birthday, December 23)
In the event that a National Holiday falls on a Monday, the Garden will be closed on Tuesday immediately following the National Holiday.
From December 28 to January 3
In circumstances where it is deemed necessary to close the Garden due to Imperial Court functions or other occasions.
Entrance and exit gates: (Free of charge)
Ote-mon Gate, Hirakawa-mon Gate, and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate.
*The information above about the garden schedule was taken from the site: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/higashigyoen02.html at 18 \03 \2017
This articles ins based on my original post in http://porutogarujin.blogspot.pt/2017/03/jardins-imperiais-imperial-palace.html*
Thank you for reading dear "Steeamians"!
I went there back in 2014 but there was something going on so we could not enter to see. We just wandered around outside.
I did go to Shinjuku Gyoen recently though, and it's really beautiful too!