New reasons to visit Tokyo’s Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are one of the parts of Tokyo's Imperial Palace that visitors can explore independently. With landscaped gardens, massive stone walls and the remains of Edo Castle, they are a popular sightseeing stop in the heart of the city. There is now another reason to visit: on November 3, 2026, the Museum of the Imperial Collections fully reopened in a much larger building near Otemon Gate.
Inside the new museum
Known in Japanese as Sannomaru Shozokan, the museum first opened in a small building in 1993. It preserves and displays paintings, calligraphy, crafts and other treasures passed down through the imperial family and donated to the nation. Work on the new facilities began in 2019, with a partial opening in 2023 followed by another closure to complete the project.
The opening exhibition, "Beauty Through the Ages: Treasures of the Imperial Collections", runs until January 24, 2027. It brings together highlights of the museum's collection with treasures from the Shosoin Storehouse in Nara and others originally from nearby Horyuji Temple. The works change across three exhibition periods, so a later visit will offer a different selection.
The completed building has three exhibition rooms, a lecture hall and a museum shop. Inside, long display cases allow visitors to follow the details of illustrated handscrolls, while folding screens occupy the walls of the galleries.
The museum shop carries art prints, exhibition books and smaller souvenirs based on the collection. Among the goods on display were tote bags made for the grand opening exhibitions, colorful stationery and sweets in art-themed packaging.
A new visitor center, cafe and rooftop deck
Across from the museum, the Ote Rest House also opened on November 3. The new building serves as a visitor center, with a Sarutahiko Coffee cafe, a souvenir shop and displays about the imperial family, the palace and destinations around Japan. A rooftop deck offers views over the surrounding palace grounds. Its high wooden ceilings, large windows and bench seating make it a useful stop before or after a walk through the gardens. Tall screens show scenes from around Japan.
The cafe serves an exclusive Imperial Palace East Gardens blend in light and dark roasts. Alongside the rest house's imperial-themed souvenirs, visitors can buy coffee gifts connected to the museum: a five-pack of drip coffee bags decorated with works from its collection costs 1400 yen. The cafe and museum shop are separate. The rest house normally follows East Gardens opening hours; when the gardens are closed, access is limited to museum visitors.
Hours and tickets
During the opening exhibition, museum hours are 9:30 to 17:00, or until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays (holiday exceptions apply), over New Year and for exhibition changes. See the official English calendar for exact dates. When the museum is open but the East Gardens are closed, enter through Otemon Gate.
Admission to the museum is 2500 yen for adults; free for visitors under 23 and university students. Book a timed slot in advance, including for free student and under-23 admission, and bring proof of eligibility. Elementary-age children and younger, and visitors with disabilities do not need reservations. No tickets are sold on site. See the official English ticket page for details. Admission to the East Gardens is free.
