The Imperial Household Agency announced on November 6, 2026, that Inui Street (Inui-dori, 乾通り) inside the Imperial Palace will open to the public from Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6. That's nine days, with entry from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To get in, you line up outside Sakashita Gate (Sakashita-mon, 坂下門) on the day you visit, go through a bag check, and walk in.
Sakashita Gate is the only entrance. You can't get onto Inui Street from Inui Gate or the East Gardens.
Inui Street is the roughly 750-meter road through the palace grounds from Sakashita Gate to Inui Gate (Inui-mon, 乾門).
The public openings began in 2014. Since autumn 2015, they have been held in spring and autumn to coincide with the cherry blossoms and fall foliage, except when canceled for tree renewal work or COVID-19.
For other places to see fall foliage in Tokyo, see Tokyo Fall Foliage 2026: Peak Week and 4:30pm Park Closings.
Autumn 2026 at a glance
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Dates | Sat, Nov 28 – Sun, Dec 6, 2026 (9 days) |
Entry | 9 a. |
Entry process | Line up outside Sakashita Gate on the day and pass a bag check |
Entrance | Sakashita Gate only |
Exit | Inui Gate |
Distance | About 750 m, Sakashita Gate to Inui Gate |
Cancellation | May be called off for earthquakes or severe weather |
Phone line | Imperial Household Agency, 03-3284-6780 (Japanese only) |
The spring 2026 opening let people in until 3:30 p.m., so guides written then may show the later time. This autumn, entry closes at 3 p.m.
If the weather looks rough, check the agency's English page before you set out: Visit of the General Public to Inui Street. The phone line above is in Japanese only.
Which day to go: 2024 and 2025 crowd numbers
The agency publishes daily visitor counts. Both the 2024 and 2025 autumn openings ran Saturday to the following Sunday, the same pattern as 2026, so the past numbers line up neatly with this year's dates.
2026 date | Autumn 2025 | Autumn 2024 |
|---|---|---|
Day 1, Sat Nov 28 | 20,040 | 17,440 |
Day 2, Sun Nov 29 | 41,780 | 26,970 |
Day 3, Mon Nov 30 | 26,800 | 15,280 |
Day 4, Tue Dec 1 | 24,100 | 19,170 |
Day 5, Wed Dec 2 | 15,230 | 18,110 |
Day 6, Thu Dec 3 | 21,170 | 16,455 |
Day 7, Fri Dec 4 | 18,840 | 16,160 |
Day 8, Sat Dec 5 | 27,100 | 22,890 |
Day 9, Sun Dec 6 | 24,390 | 20,040 |
Total | 219,450 | 172,515 |
In both years, the first Sunday was the busiest day, followed by the second Saturday. In 2026 terms, that's Sunday, November 29 and Saturday, December 5.
Weekdays were quieter on average: about 21,200 a day against 28,300 on weekends in 2025, and about 17,000 against 21,800 in 2024. The opening Saturday was about as busy as an average weekday in both years.
The quietest weekday changed from year to year. In 2024 it was the Monday, day 3 of the opening; in 2025 it was the Wednesday, day 5, while that year's Monday was the third-busiest day.
So if you want to avoid the worst of it, skip November 29 and December 5. If a weekend is your only option, the opening Saturday, November 28, is the better bet. Weather and how far the leaves have turned can still shift things.
Getting to Sakashita Gate
The route runs one way. You enter at Sakashita Gate, pass the Imperial Household Agency building, walk north along Inui Street and leave through Inui Gate, which is exit-only.
The official map lists seven stations for getting to Sakashita Gate: Tokyo, Yurakucho, Nijubashimae, Otemachi, Hibiya, Kasumigaseki and Sakuradamon. From any of them, you walk across the Imperial Palace Outer Garden (Kokyo Gaien, 皇居外苑) to the entry point just outside the gate.
Normally, Sakashita Gate is about 650 meters, or a 15-minute walk, from Exit 6 of Nijubashimae Station (Chiyoda Line) or Exit D2 of Otemachi Station (Mita Line). From the Marunouchi Central Exit of JR Tokyo Station it's about 1 kilometer, roughly 20 minutes.
During the opening, the agency warns that the walk from the nearest stations alone can take close to 30 minutes. Then comes the line and the bag check, so I'd leave the station by 2 p.m. at the latest.
The agency also says staff will manage the line around the 3 p.m. last entry, so don't count on joining it at 2:55. Inui Gate shuts at 3:30 p.m., which means walking in at 3 leaves you about half an hour on Inui Street.
There's no parking at the palace, and you can't stop or park on the surrounding roads.
Bag check and the rules inside
There's a bag check and security screening before you go through Sakashita Gate. The agency asks visitors not to stop or step out of line.
What to leave behind:
- Suitcases and other large bags can get you turned away if they'd block the path. Leave them in a station coin locker first, and plan for that if you're heading to the airport the same day.
- Leave knives and scissors at your hotel, even ones that are legal to carry.
- Drones and flagpoles can also get you turned away if they could block the way or bother others. Simplest to leave them behind.
- No pets, even in a carrier or pet stroller. Assistance dogs (guide, hearing and service dogs) are the exception.
Inside, eating, drinking alcohol and smoking are banned, though staying hydrated is fine. You can't use selfie sticks, tripods or stepladders, and costumes or other outfits out of place at the palace can get you turned away.
The road between Sakashita Gate and Inui Gate has a gentle slope. The agency specifically warns people in high heels or geta (wooden sandals) to watch their step.
Leaving through Inui Gate
Inui Gate sits on the northwest side of the palace, right by Kitanomaru Park.
The official map lists six stations for the way home: Tokyo, Otemachi, Jimbocho, Kudanshita, Takebashi and Hanzomon. You can walk back to Tokyo or Otemachi, but Takebashi, Kudanshita and Hanzomon are closer to Inui Gate.
East Gardens entry: Hirakawa and Kitahanebashi Gates
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen, 皇居東御苑) next door stay open throughout the nine days, including Monday, November 30 and Friday, December 4, days they're usually closed.
From November to February the gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m.
The catch is the gate. During this opening, Otemon Gate (Ote-mon, 大手門) is exit-only to ease crowding, so you enter through Hirakawa Gate (Hirakawa-mon, 平川門) or Kitahanebashi Gate (Kitahanebashi-mon, 北桔橋門).
In autumn 2025 and spring 2026 you could still walk in through Otemon; this time you can't.
Takebashi Station on the Tozai Line is closest to both gates, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1a. Use the same two gates for the Museum of the Imperial Collections (Sannomaru Shozokan, 皇居三の丸尚蔵館) and the Imperial Palace Visitor Center (Ote Kyukeijo, 大手休憩所).
These nine days are the only chance to walk Inui Street this autumn, and entry closes at 3 p.m. Head for Sakashita Gate, not the Inui Gate or East Gardens side.
Planning a December trip? Japan in December 2026: Tickets and Trains to Book Before You Go lists what to book before you go.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
