Connecting the northern end of Tokyo Imperial Palace with the vibrant life outside, Kitahanebashi-mon is the gate to the Honmaru enceinte. The gate is constructed as a masu-gate (square gate) and has watari-yagura-mon (double storied gateway) in a left angle within. Right next to the gate is a bridge that used to be a drawbridge during the Edo period.

Tenshudai is the ruined base of a stone tower that was once a part of the Edo castle in Tokyo. It is located in the heart of the Central Park of the city.
The Tenshu Donjon or stone tower was constructed by the 2nd Tokugawa Shogun Hidetada who ruled Tokyo in 1607. It was improved in 1622 and completed by his successor Tokugawa Lemitsu in 1638. It formed part of the Edo Castle and was its central tower. Most castles in Japan during the shogun era had Tenshus or central towers. The Tenshu Donjon was 58 meters tall with five floors above the ground and a sixth underground floor. In its heyday, it was an impressive structure that reflected the strength and power of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was burnt down by the Meireki fire that destroyed nearly 70 percent of the city of Edo now called Tokyo in 1657 and was never rebuilt.
Today, only the Tenshudai or the base of the Tenshu Donjon survives. It has become a major tourist attraction. The former Edo castle is the residence of the present Emperor of Japan, but the stone structure is accessible to visitors. One can climb to the top of the stone base to get a picture of the grandeur of the Tenshu Donjon during the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Tokagakudo is an octagonal concert hall located within the imperial gardens of Tokyo. In Japanese, “Tokagakudo” means “peach blossom” and the structure is designed to resemble a flower.
The Tokagakudo was built as a concert hall in 1966 in honor of Empress Kojun. She was the consort of Emperor Hirohito, the longest serving Japanese emperor who became the symbol of modern Japan after World War II. She was a well known patron and lover of classical music. The hall was opened to commemorate the 60th birthday of the empress who died in the year 2000.
The Tokagakudo has eight walls and a circular roof in the shape of clematis petals. Each wall is covered with a mosaic portraying large flying birds and patterns of the sun, moon and stars, depicting different seasons of the year. The mosaic consists of fragments of Arita and Shigaraki pottery. The roof of the main entrance is adorned by two dolls that are the Japanese version of Gargoyles. Many well known Japanese and international musicians and orchestras have performed at the venue in the presence of the imperial family. The Tokagakudo is a modern structure amidst the traditional historic buildings of the East Gardens of the Edo Castle.

The East Gardens of the Tokyo Imperial Palace is a beautiful green space in the midst of the bustling city. The public can enter the garden through any of the three historic gates, the Otemon, the Hirakawamon or the Kitahanebashimon.
The East Gardens was laid out during the Meiji era when the Emperor seized control of the city from the Tokagawa Shogunate. It was opened for public viewing in 1968, and covers an area of nearly 52 acres, featuring a traditional Japanese garden, a tea ceremony room, a guard house, concert hall and a small forest.
During spring, the garden is adorned with blooming Sakura or cherry blossom trees. The garden has nearly 30 species of cherry trees. Other notable plants are bamboo, peonies, a grove of plum trees and willow trees. The garden has over one thousand species of native Japanese plants. There is also a large green lawn, called the Oshibahu, that was once used for imperial ceremonies. Structures within the gardens include two guardhouses that once guarded the gates and the remains of a stone tower, called the Tenshu Dai. It is open to the public daily except on Mondays and Fridays, and a map of the garden is available at the guardhouse near the Otemon Gate to help visitors find their way.

The palace, referred to as Kyuden, comprises of seven buildings and is interconnected. The Palace suffered serious damages during World War II and was completely reconstructed in 1968. The entire structure is a steel-framed modern structure. The place is mainly used to receive state visitors and host national ceremonies and events.

The Nijubashi Bridge is a bridge that connects the Imperial Palace front Plaza called the Kokyo Gaien and the Imperial Place over a deep moat. It was once a wooden bridge with two levels which is why it was named Nijubashi or double bridge.
The Nijubashi Bridge was a wooden bridge constructed during the Meiji period in 1888. The first bridge connected to Masugata Gate. The bridge was replaced with a steel bridge in 1964. It is best viewed from the large plaza called the Kokyo Gaien. Two bridges make up the entrance of the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called the Meganebashi or the Eyeglass Bridge and the other is the two level steel Nijubashi Bridge.
The Nijubashi Bridge is not always opened to the public. It is used only when state guests visit the Imperial Palace or when Royal ceremonies are held. On two days in a year, the bridge is open for all members of the public and for visitors. On the 2nd of January when the people of Japan are allowed to visit the palace and greet the imperial family for the New Year and on the 23rd of December to greet the emperor on his birthday, the Nijubashi Bridge is open to all. Today, it is one of the most photographed structures in Japan.

The Main Gate is the place from which the guided walking tour starts. Also known as Kikyomon gate, the gate itself is an architectural splendor and has been built in the same style as the Imperial Palace.

This palace was previously known as the Fukiage Palace. It was originally the residence Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. It was renamed into Fukiage Ōmiya Palace in 1989 after the death of Emperor Showa. The palace is surrounded by the beautiful Fukiage Gardens that carries its name since the Edo period. The place is usually used as a residential area for the Imperial family.