Palace Intro, 1 Hour

Tokyo: 1 Hour Imperial Palace Introduction from Tokyo Station

Free pay what you want

Run by an independent local guide on GuruWalk

Takes you to the guide's GuruWalk page, where a free place is reserved directly. Nothing is paid here, and the walk is free, pay what you want.

Duration: 1 hour
Language: English
Meeting point: Tokyo Station, Marunouchi South Exit
Where it walks: Marunouchi
Guide: Local Guide Stars
What it costs: Free, pay what you want

Overview

One hour is all this walk asks for. Palace Intro, 1 Hour is a GuruWalk walk by Local Guide Stars that begins beside the police box in the Marunouchi South Exit hall of Tokyo Station, where the guide waits with a white flag. From there the group sets out into Marunouchi, past ginkgo-lined streets and glass towers, toward the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace, ending at Otemon Gate and the Tatsumi Yagura watchtower.

A closed wooden gate of the Imperial Palace East Gardens on a quiet morning

Along the way the guide talks through the red-brick station building, its European architectural influences and its restoration, then widens the story to Edo Castle, its stone walls and moats, and how the palace functions today. The walk runs in English and lasts one hour.

The walk is free, pay what you want, and reservations go through GuruWalk. At the end the guide hands out an original self-guide booklet, so walkers can keep exploring the grounds on their own afterwards.

Itinerary

Stop	What Happens
Meet at Tokyo Station	The meeting point is next to the police box (koban) in the Marunouchi South Exit hall. The guide holds a white Local Guide Stars flag.
Gyoko-dori	The walk leaves the station through the Marunouchi district, where ginkgo tree-lined streets sit against a modern skyline.
Wadakura Fountain Park Area	The route reaches the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens, with open spaces, stone walls and historic moats near the fountain park.
Otemon Gate and Tatsumi Yagura	The walk ends at the gate and watchtower, with the guide covering the defensive design of Edo Castle and the palace's role today.
Self-guided continue (optional)	Walkers receive an information booklet and can visit the palace grounds on their own. The East Gardens are closed on Mondays and Fridays.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the operator's description to know before you reserve a spot on GuruWalk.

Find the koban. The meeting point is next to the police box in the Marunouchi South Exit hall of Tokyo Station. If you arrive from outside the station, follow the signs marked Marunouchi South Exit to the hall. The guide carries a white Local Guide Stars flag.
One hour only. The stated duration is one hour, covering the station, Marunouchi and the outer gardens before finishing at Otemon Gate.
Booklet at the end. The guide hands out an original self-guide booklet with tips and extra information. It is meant for continuing around the palace grounds at your own pace after the tour finishes.

Duration	Language	Meeting point	What it costs
1 hour	English	Tokyo Station, Marunouchi South Exit	Free, pay what you want

East Garden closures. The operator notes the Imperial Palace East Garden grounds are closed on Mondays and Fridays. The booklet is handed out on the palace grounds, so the closures matter if you want to go inside after the walk.
Seasonal streets. The Marunouchi streets are lined with ginkgo trees, and the operator's description says the leaves turn a brilliant gold in autumn.

Common issues. The operator does not state group size, accessibility details or a cancellation policy, so those questions are best raised on the walk's own GuruWalk page before booking. Anyone hoping to enter the East Gardens afterwards should remember they close on Mondays and Fridays. No pickup is offered; everyone makes their own way to the station hall.

Free Sights Nearby

Place	Free Or Ticketed	What Is Free	What You Still Pay For
Marunouchi Illumination	Free	Street lights along Marunouchi Naka-dori from 12 November to 25 December 2026 (marunouchi.com).	Viewing from the street has no ticket on the page read; food and shop events are paid.

What To Know Before A Free Walk

How Long Is The Palace Intro Walk?

The tour lasts one hour, from the meeting point inside Tokyo Station to Otemon Gate and the Tatsumi Yagura watchtower. The reservation itself is free, pay what you want, and you tip the guide at the end.

Where Does The Walk Meet?

Next to the police box (koban) in the Marunouchi South Exit hall of Tokyo Station. Coming from outside the station, look for the entrances labelled Marunouchi South Exit and head to the hall. The guide waits with a white Local Guide Stars flag.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

No. There is no pickup; the operator gives the station hall meeting point only. Every walker arrives at the koban on their own.

What Is Included?

The guided hour and an original self-guide booklet given at the end of the tour. The booklet is intended for exploring the palace grounds on your own afterwards.

Can I Visit The East Gardens After The Tour?

Yes, if you have time, and the booklet is meant for exactly that. Note that the East Garden grounds are closed on Mondays and Fridays.

How Do I Book And What Does It Cost?

The walk is listed on GuruWalk by Local Guide Stars and runs in English. Booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end; details and reservations are on the guide's GuruWalk page.