Kyoto, Kyoto / 京都御所
Kyoto Imperial Palace
The residence of the emperors for about 500 years, from the Nanboku-cho period to the Meiji era; most of the existing buildings date from 1855 (Ansei 2). Besides historic buildings such as the Shishinden, Kogosho and Ogakumonsho, there are also gardens. Entry is free and no advance booking is needed.
Last official check
26 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
25 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Train
- Closing days
- Has closing days (see below)
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.
- Opening hours
April-August 9:00-16:20 (must leave by 17:00); September and March 9:00-15:50 (by 16:30); October-February 9:00-15:20 (by 16:00).
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Closed
Closed on Mondays (the next day if a holiday), over New Year (December 28-January 4) and on days with events.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Admission
Free; no advance booking needed.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Getting there
About 5 minutes on foot from Imadegawa subway station.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Payment
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Accessibility
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto (Japanese address: 京都府京都市上京区京都御苑内)
Official site: https://kyoto-gosho.kunaicho.go.jp/
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
- No photo yetNijo-jo CastleKyoto2 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetShimogamo Shrine (Kamo-mioya Jinja)Kyoto2 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetNishiki MarketKyoto2 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetHeian Jingu ShrineKyoto2 km away (straight line)
Photo: Moja / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Gion Shinbashi Historic DistrictKyoto2 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Crowd level
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Best time to visit
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Peak time
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest days
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest season
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Visiting respectfully
- RulesEnter by the Seishomon Gate; bags are checked on entry. Pets, suitcases and other large luggage, and dangerous items are not allowed.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
- RulesSmoking, drinking, eating, sketching, loudspeakers and bringing in drones for filming are prohibited.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
- PhotographyPhotography is allowed, but large professional cameras, tripods and stepladders may not be used.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Verification log
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://ja.kyoto.travel/tourism/single01.php?category_id=8&tourism_id=331Hours, closing days, access, description, address and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Official website · https://kyoto-gosho.kunaicho.go.jp/visitPhotography and facilities read from the official site.