Imperial Palace East Gardens wheelchair accessibility
Free admission, no booking required, step-free entrance from the Ote Mon gate, and sealed paths through the inner citadel of the old Edo Castle.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Higashi-Gyoen) occupy the former inner citadel of Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns from 1603 to 1868. The site sits inside the modern Imperial Palace grounds, a few minutes from Tokyo Station. Admission is free, and the gates open six days a week.
For wheelchair users the gardens are straightforward. The main entrance at the Ote Mon gate has a step-free side path past the gate keep; the inner paths are sealed asphalt or compacted gravel on a gentle slope; multi-purpose toilets are at each of the three gates; and the Honmaru lawn at the top of the citadel is reached by a paved ramp with seating along the way.
Plan two to three hours. The main visiting route runs from the Ote Mon gate up through the inner citadel ramps to the Honmaru lawn, around the foundation stones of the old keep, and back down through the Hirakawa or Kita-Hanebashi gate. The route is around 1.5 kilometres long with a gentle rise from the gate to the lawn.
Accessibility at a glance
| What | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Step-free entrance from the Ote Mon gate | The Ote Mon gate has a stone-paved step-free entrance through the side of the gate keep. The Hirakawa and Kita-Hanebashi gates are also step-free with paved approaches. The security check at each gate is at ground level. | Confirmed accessible |
| Sealed paths through the inner citadel | The main visiting route through the inner citadel uses paved or compacted-gravel paths on a gentle slope. The historic stone-stair routes between citadel levels are bypassed by paved side ramps. The Honmaru lawn at the top of the citadel is paved at the perimeter. | Confirmed accessible |
| Loan wheelchairs at the gates | Loan wheelchairs are available at the Sannomaru-Shozokan museum office near the Ote Mon gate. The number is limited; ask at the gate counter before entering. Free of charge. | Partially confirmed |
| Multi-purpose toilets at each gate | Multi-purpose toilets are at the Ote Mon, Hirakawa, and Kita-Hanebashi gates. The toilets at the Ote Mon entrance pavilion are the largest and include an adult-changing space. | Partially confirmed |
| Free admission for every visitor | The Imperial Palace East Gardens are free of charge for every visitor. There is no separate disability ticket because there is no ticket. The Sannomaru-Shozokan museum on the grounds is also free. | Confirmed accessible |
| No queue management | The gardens have no ticketed entry. Visitors pick up a small entry tag at the gate and return it on exit; the tag is free. There is no queue for the gardens themselves. | Confirmed accessible |
| Nearest accessible transport | Otemachi Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Tozai, Chiyoda, Hanzomon, Toei Mita lines) is the closest stop to the Ote Mon gate, five minutes' step-free roll. Tokyo Station's Marunouchi side is ten minutes step-free along a flat, paved avenue. All listed stations have lifts to platform level. | Confirmed accessible |
| Service dog policy | Assistance dogs in harness are admitted to the gardens. Pets and other animals are not. Confirm with the gate staff if you have specific requirements. | Partially confirmed |
Overview
The East Gardens are the part of the modern Imperial Palace open to the public free of charge. They occupy the inner citadel (Honmaru) and the third citadel (Sannomaru) of the old Edo Castle, the Tokugawa-era fortress that stood on this site until 1868. The wider Imperial Palace grounds (the Fukiage Garden and the residential and ceremonial halls) are not open without reservation; the East Gardens are.
The most visited part of the site is the Honmaru lawn at the top of the citadel, an open green where the old castle keep stood until the 1657 Great Fire of Edo. The foundation stones of the keep are still visible at the north end of the lawn.
Where to enter as a wheelchair user
Use the Ote Mon gate (south-east) as your main entrance. The gate is two minutes from Otemachi Station exit C13b (lift-served) and ten minutes from Tokyo Station's Marunouchi side. The Ote Mon is the historic main gate of Edo Castle; the stone-paved side path beside the gate keep is step-free.
Inside the gate, head straight along the central avenue to the Sannomaru-Shozokan museum, then up the gentle paved slope into the inner citadel. The route to the Honmaru lawn climbs about 15 metres over half a kilometre.
What you can see in the precinct
Ote Mon gate: the main south-east gate of Edo Castle, rebuilt after the war on the original stone foundations. The masugata (square-tile gate) is one of the largest surviving Edo-period gate forms.
Sannomaru-Shozokan: a small museum of the Imperial collection on the south side of the third citadel. Free admission, step-free entrance.
Inner citadel (Honmaru): the top of the old castle, now an open green lawn the size of two football pitches. Bordered by ancient stone walls and approached by paved ramps. The foundation stones of the old keep are at the north end.
Castle ramparts: the stone walls around the inner citadel are largely intact and visible from the perimeter path. The walls rise around 15 metres above the gate level.
Ninomaru Garden: a small traditional pond garden on the eastern slope of the citadel, with sealed paths and step-free entry from the central avenue.
Toilets and rest stops
Multi-purpose toilets are at each of the three open gates and at the Sannomaru-Shozokan museum. The toilets at the Ote Mon entrance pavilion are the largest with an adult-changing space and grab bars.
Benches are arranged along the central avenue and on the Honmaru lawn. The Ninomaru pond garden has covered seating at the pond's edge with step-free access.
How to get there
Subway: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Tozai, Chiyoda, or Hanzomon line, or Toei Mita line, to Otemachi Station. Use exit C13b (lift-served, two minutes from the Ote Mon gate).
JR: JR Tokyo Station (Marunouchi side) to a ten-minute step-free walk along Eitai-dori. The Marunouchi side has a wide pavement and a covered colonnade for shelter.
Bus: Toei buses serving Otemachi or Tokyo Station within a five-minute walk of the gates. Low-floor with retractable ramps.
Accessible taxi: pre-book a wheelchair-accessible taxi for an evening pickup. The drop point is at the Ote Mon gate or at the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station.
Tips for wheelchair visitors
Plan a morning visit on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday. The gardens are closed Mondays and Fridays. The morning light catches the inner-citadel walls from the east.
Pack water. The Honmaru lawn has no covered seating; in summer, the central avenue's tree shade and the Ninomaru pond garden are the best places to rest.
Pair with Tokyo Station. The Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station is one of the most attractive accessible station buildings in Japan; a step-free Marunouchi-side walk-through is an easy bookend to the gardens.
Save the Sannomaru-Shozokan for last. The small Imperial-collection museum at the south end of the third citadel has lift access and a step-free shop; it is the quietest indoor spot on the site.
Quick facts
Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Visitor entrance: Ote Mon, Hirakawa, or Kita-Hanebashi gate. All step-free. Opening hours: 09:00 to 17:00 (summer), 09:00 to 16:30 (spring and autumn), 09:00 to 16:00 (winter); closed Mondays and Fridays. Admission: free for every visitor, no booking required. Time to allow: 1.5 to 2 hours.
Nearby accessible attractions
The Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station and the KITTE shopping arcade are five minutes step-free. The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is a ten-minute step-free walk through Marunouchi. The National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAT) is six minutes north of the Hirakawa gate.
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