A Photographer’s Guide to the Imperial Palace’s Inui Street Autumn Walk
Imagine strolling down a 750-meter avenue typically reserved for the Emperor of Japan, lined with fiery red and gold maple trees. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the rare opportunity offered during the biannual opening of Inui Street at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. For a few precious days each autumn, this historic path opens to the public, offering a glimpse into a normally hidden world and one of the best free autumn events in the city.
What makes the Inui Street opening special?
This special public opening first began in 2014 to commemorate Emperor Emeritus Akihito’s 80th birthday. It proved so popular that it has become a biannual tradition, opening for both the spring cherry blossoms and the autumn foliage.
Inui Street runs between the Imperial Palace’s Sakashita and Inui Gates. That puts it on a southeast-to-northwest orientation. It is about 750 meters long, lined with 70 maple trees of eight different types. Cherry blossoms grow there, too. Several palace landmarks along it are:
- Chowaden Hall
- Fujimi Keep
- Fujimi Tamon Defence House
- Imperial Household Agency building
Beyond these landmarks, the street itself holds a special appeal, especially for photographers.
I go to this event to see Fujimi Keep. It’s one of the old defensive structures in the palace. I like to photograph it with the Marunouchi skyscrapers in the background. The contrast is great. Old and new. History and modernity.
But there is one more reason. I like the street’s maple trees. When their leaves turn red, they add beautiful color to the palace. They are great for photos.
It’s kind of exclusive. Who gets to see them in an emperor’s home?
A photographer's walk through Inui Street
One thing I must comment on was the weather. It was perfect blue skies with a few clouds here and there. For a free event such as this, it made perfect walking weather. Non-photographers must have loved it too.
Actually, I sometimes envy non-photographers. They look through their own eyes all the time. When I go out, I look at life through my viewfinder. It must be nice to walk and enjoy life at times. But breaking my photography habit is impossible.
As always the only thing I can complain about was the police announcements. They were constantly telling us to move on. There was hardly anyone there at 9:30 so it seemed a little lame. For photographers, it makes things a little difficult to take good photos.
There are also many plain-clothed police at the event. You’ll see them looking into the crowd. I think they are looking for undesirables. The assassination of Prime Minister Abe was a hard lesson for Japan. They don’t want anything to happen at the palace.
This Imperial Palace free event has huge crowds on weekends and public holidays. Getting through security at the entrance takes longer with many people. Once inside, the crowd moves slowly. Maybe those police announcements are necessary!
Planning your own visit to Inui Street?
This incredible event typically happens for about nine days from late November to early December, and entry is completely free.
However, there are very specific rules, entry gates, and security procedures you need to know about to make your visit smooth and enjoyable. For all the essential details—including exact dates for this year, operating hours, a map of the route, and a list of prohibited items—please read my complete guide.
Conclusion
While much of the Imperial Palace grounds is a dense forest, Inui Street offers a more curated, park-like experience. You walk on a paved road with beautifully arranged trees on both sides. For a free event, the walk along Inui Street is a remarkable experience.
The street is a rare chance to step inside the Emperor’s home, see landmarks like the Fujimi Keep up close, and witness a spectacular display of nature in the very heart of Tokyo. For lovers of history, photography, or simply the beauty of autumn, this fleeting event is an absolute must-see.
Photo gear for these photos
- Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lenses: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR and XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
Date of photos: 27 November, 2023
More Imperial Palace articles
External Inui Street websites
- Special View: Autumn Leaves at the Imperial Palace’s Inui Street (on Public Relations Office Government of Japan (2014))