The ruins of Edo Castle in Chiyoda City, Tokyo are known for Japan’s largest Tenshudai Base (the foundation on which the castle’s symbolic and authoritative Tower was built), Yagura (The tower mainly built in the corners of the castle for observation and defense), and stone walls.

Stone walls of Edo Castle

Although part of Edo Castle is now the Imperial Palace, the East Gardens and the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace are open to the public and can be visited.

Edo Castle Tenshudai Base
Tenshudai Base

In the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, where the Tenshudai Base is located, there is a garden where visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall.

Otemon gate of Edo Castle
Otemon gate (The main gate of Edo Castle)

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About Edo Castle

Model of Edo Castle Keep
Model of Edo Castle Keep

Edo Castle was first built in 1457.
Later, the castle’s lords were replaced by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the second Tokugawa Shogun, Hidetada, and the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, who expanded and improved the castle, and in 1636, the castle, which is said to be the largest in Japan, was completed.

The symbol of the castle, the keep, was one of the tallest in Japan at 60 meters, but was destroyed by fire in 1657, and has not been rebuilt since.

East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
View from the Tenshudai Base

The tower’s former keep is now an observatory from which visitors can view the ruins of the Honmaru Goten Palace and the buildings of Marunouchi, one of Tokyo’s most prestigious business districts.

View from Edo Castle Tenshudai Base
Buildings of Marunouchi

Imperial Palaces Guide App

By downloading the official guide application, visitors can listen to voice guidance and view photos and drawings at various points in the Imperial Palace and the East Gardens.
The app is available in English, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish, Japanese.

You can download the application from the stores below.
App Store(iPhone)
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/%E5%AE%AE%E5%86%85%E5%BA%81%E5%8F%82%E8%A6%B3%E9%9F%B3%E5%A3%B0%E3%82%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%89-%E5%AE%AE%E5%86%85%E5%BA%81%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E3%82%A2%E3%83%97%E3%83%AA/id1234070799

Google Play(Android)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.go.kunaicho.iha&hl=en_US&gl=US

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INFORMATION

NAME

Edo Castle Ruins (江戸城跡)

BUSINESS DAY

Open except on the following days. ① Mondays and Fridays. Mondays and Fridays, except for the Emperor's Birthday, which is a national holiday. When Monday is a national holiday, the garden is closed on Tuesday. ②December 28 through January 3 of the following year. ③Days when events are held or other unavoidable reasons hinder the opening.

ADMISSION

Free

ADDRESS

1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111

ACCESS

3-minute walk from Takebashi Station and Otemachi Station. 6-minute walk from Nijubashimae Station. 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station.

STATION INFO

(JR) Tokyo Station
Keihin-Tohoku・Negishi Line, Keiyo Line, Sobu Line Rapid, Taksaki Line, Tokaidou Main Line, Musashino Line, Yamanote Line, Yokosuka Line, Chuo Line Rapid, Utsunomiya Line, Ueno-Tokyo Line, Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen

(Tokyo Metro) Tokyo Station
Marunouchi Line

(Tokyo Metro) Takebashi Station
Tozai Line

(Tokyo Metro) Otemachi Station
Tozai Line

(Tokyo Metro) Nijubashimae Station
Chiyoda Line

LINK

https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/multilingual/lang/en/koukyo/index.html