The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 run July 24-Aug. 9, 2020, and while they are still 14 months away there’s a lot to learn on your quest to becoming the ultimate fan. Each Tuesday leading up to the Games, TeamUSA.org will present a nugget you should read about – from athletes to watch to storylines to follow to Japanese culture and landmarks – as part of “Tokyo 2020 Tuesday.” Follow along on social media with the hashtag #Tokyo2020Tuesday.
Tokyo Imperial Palace is the residence of Tokyo’s Imperial Family—and its grounds hold a storied history that extends back centuries. The grounds were originally home to Edo Castle, where the Tokugawa commanders in chief resided from the early 17th century until 1868, when the shogunate power structure was overthrown.
Under the rule of Japan’s new emperor, Emperor Meiji, the Imperial Palace was built on the same site after Edo structures were demolished or leveled by natural events like earthquakes and fires. Bridges and gates were constructed using iron and stone, and the palace and its outlying buildings were wooden and built in the traditional Japanese style.
During World War II, much of the original Imperial Palace was destroyed, but it was quickly rebuilt in the same style, along with new residences and a palace hall. When a housing bubble consumed Japan in the 1980s, the Imperial Palace and its grounds were valued at more than the cost of all of the real estate in the state of California.
Today, visitors to the Imperial Palace can tour just a fraction of its grounds and stroll through a handful of the sprawling gardens, including a cherry blossom viewing area. The guided tour brings guests around the Imperial Household Agency, the Palace Reception Hall and the Nijubashi Bridge. Every new year, the palace hosts a celebratory event where the emperor and his family greet the public.
The Imperial Palace is about a 30-minute subway ride from the Olympic Stadium via the Hanzomon Line between Aoyama-Itchome Station and Kudanshita Station. The palace sits within the special ward of Chiyoda City, which is often referred to as Japan’s political center.
The Imperial Palace on April 29, 2019 in Tokyo.