Kyoto Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace, Kyoto
Hours through the year
1 Mar to 31 Mar
- Tue to Sun
- 9:00 to 16:30
- Mon
- Closed
1 Apr to 31 Aug
- Tue to Sun
- 9:00 to 17:00
- Mon
- Closed
1 Sep to 30 Sep
- Tue to Sun
- 9:00 to 16:30
- Mon
- Closed
Rest of the year
- Tue to Sun
- 9:00 to 16:00
- Mon
- Closed
Last entry 40 minutes before closing. When Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes on Tuesday instead. Closed 28 December to 4 January and on days of court events.
Source: sankan.kunaicho.go.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Emperors lived here for about 500 years, from the 14th century until the Meiji era, and most of the buildings you see went up in 1855. You can't go inside any of them, but the walking route takes you past the Shishinden throne hall, the Kogosho and the gardens, and entry is free with no booking.
More photos of Kyoto Imperial Palace
Insider tip
Walk in through the Seishomon gate on the west side, where bags are checked. Free guided tours in English start at 10:00 and 14:00 from the visitors' room by the gate and take about 50 minutes. Suitcases aren't allowed, and the paths are gravel, so wear comfortable shoes. From October 2026 the Shishinden is under a repair of about nine years, and a temporary steel roof is going up over the whole hall.
What the guides say about Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace is free and you don't need to book (it's closed Mondays). English tours start at 10:00 and 14:00. From October 2026 its Shishinden throne hall is under a repair of about nine years. Higashi Hongan-ji, 7 minutes on foot from the station, is free too. See free things to do in Kyoto.
16. Book the imperial sites and the moss temple. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is free and doesn't need a booking (closed Mondays, English tours at 10:00 and 14:00), though since October 2026 its Shishinden hall has been under repairs expected to take about nine years. These take more planning.
What's on at Kyoto Imperial Palace
Upcoming events at Kyoto Imperial Palace, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kyoto Imperial Palace Autumn Special Opening
令和8年秋の特別公開「京都御所 宮廷文化の紹介」
Time 9:00 to 15:20 (entry), out by 16:00 Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), exit 6, 5 min walk
The palace shows the Takamikura throne in the Shishinden, guardian lion and dog statues and displays of court life, free. Catch kemari court football on 11 Oct or gagaku court music on 12 Oct at 10:00 and 11:00, and there are English guided tours at 13:00 and 14:00.
DavideGorla, CC BY 2.0 Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
時代祭
Time Leaves the Imperial Palace 12:00, Karasuma Oike about 12:50, Heian Shrine about 14:30 Station Marutamachi or Imadegawa (Karasuma Line)
Heian Shrine's festival is a 2 km costume parade of about 2,000 people, 70 horses and two oxen, walking back through history from the Meiji Restoration loyalists to the Heian court, and it leaves the Imperial Palace at noon. Paid seats are set up in the palace grounds, on Oike-dori and on Jingu-michi, and rain moves it to 23 Oct.
DavideGorla, CC BY 2.0 Kan'ei Imperial Procession Re-enactment (400th Anniversary)
寛永行幸四百年祭 行幸行列再現
Time Leaves Kenreimon about 12:30, reaches Nijo Castle east gate about 15:00 Station Marutamachi or Imadegawa (Karasuma Line)
About 330 people re-create Emperor Go-Mizunoo's 1626 procession to Nijo Castle in three groups, led by Empress Masako, the shogun Iemitsu and the emperor, with court musicians, walking about 3 km from the palace's Kenreimon gate. It goes ahead in light rain but not heavy rain, and Nijo Castle's last entry that day is at noon.
DavideGorla, CC BY 2.0 Kyoto Imperial Palace Spring Special Opening
京都御所 春の特別公開
Time 9:00 to 15:50 (out by 16:30) Station Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk from exit 6
Five days of extra displays in the palace. In 2026 they were the Takamikura throne in the Shishinden (seen from the south court), the dressing of a twelve-layer court robe, and gagaku or kemari kickball in the mornings. Entry is free with no booking, and staff give guided walks in Japanese and English.
DavideGorla, CC BY 2.0 Aoi Matsuri
葵祭 路頭の儀
Time Leaves the palace 10:30, Shimogamo 11:40 to 14:20, Kamigamo about 15:30 Station Imadegawa or Marutamachi (Karasuma Line)
Over 500 people in Heian court dress, with 36 horses and 4 oxen pulling decorated carts, walk from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and on to Kamigamo, everything hung with hollyhock leaves. The Kyoto City Tourism Association sells reserved seats, and rain moves it to the next day.
DavideGorla, CC BY 2.0 Nearby
Around Imperial Palace
Free palace walks, a park that never shuts, and the court's old shops
Kyoto Gyoen, a park 1.3 km long in central Kyoto, never closes. The Kyoto Imperial Palace sits inside it, and you can walk round it for free without booking. Around the edges you'll find Shokoku-ji (head of the Zen branch that takes in Kinkaku-ji), the house site where The Tale of Genji was written, and shops that once supplied the court.
Imperial Palace has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 6 shrines and temples, 5 landmarks, 3 museums, 2 cafes, 2 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 parks and gardens and 1 bar. Read the Imperial Palace guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Kyoto Imperial Palace?
- Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市上京区京都御苑内).
- What are the opening hours of Kyoto Imperial Palace?
- 1 Mar to 31 Mar: Tue to Sun 9:00 to 16:30; Closed Mon. 1 Apr to 31 Aug: Tue to Sun 9:00 to 17:00; Closed Mon. 1 Sep to 30 Sep: Tue to Sun 9:00 to 16:30; Closed Mon. Rest of the year: Tue to Sun 9:00 to 16:00; Closed Mon. Last entry 40 minutes before closing. When Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes on Tuesday instead. Closed 28 December to 4 January and on days of court events.
- How do I get to Kyoto Imperial Palace?
- The nearest station is Imadegawa (Karasuma Line). Kyoto Imperial Palace is in Imperial Palace, Kyoto.
- How much does Kyoto Imperial Palace cost?
- Nothing. Kyoto Imperial Palace is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kyoto Imperial Palace?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace?
- Weekday mornings.
Stay near Kyoto Imperial Palace
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