The Imperial Palace is located in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo, and located where once stood the ancient castle of Edo. As the residence of the Emperor and the Imperial court used the second half of the nineteenth century. The total area of the Palace complex – almost 7, 5 square kilometers.

The first castle here in the XV century was built by the local ruler OTA dokan. Since the beginning of the XVII century the castle became a residence of the Tokugawa shoguns who ruled Japan for two and a half centuries. After the end of the reign of the Tokugawa Shogunate Edo castle became the main residence of the Emperor of Japan.

Throughout its history the castle many times changed his appearance – he once burned, during the Second world war, was bombed, it was restored and completed. In 1873 the castle, former Royal residence, burnt out again – this time to the ground, and in 1888, on its place was built a new Imperial Palace with their surrounding gardens and buildings. If, before the nineteenth century buildings in the complex were built mostly from wood in the traditional Japanese style, in the XX century in the Palace complex buildings made of concrete in the traditions of European architecture.

In may 1945, the wooden building burned down after the bombing - were destroyed throne room and apartments of the Emperor. Emperor Hirohito was applied for the surrender of reinforced concrete basement of the library.

Restored the Palace consists of two ground and one underground floor. Main, second and third courtyards of the complex turned into an Oriental Palace Park, which on certain days and hours open for all visitors. On site are also Peach music room, three Palace sanctuaries, Imperial laboratory. The Palace the same way as when the shoguns, surrounded by deep moats filled with water.

In addition to the Eastern Park, the Palace is still a closed area, you can get here only twice a year – January 2nd, when the Emperor and his family take new year greetings, and 23 December – the birthday of the character States of the Emperor. The Palace is forbidden to fly in helicopters, and under it will never be held subway line.

Near the Palace are the Central Tokyo station, shopping district of Ginza and the district Kasumigaseki, where are the offices of many ministries and agencies.