Imperial Palace under Winter Lights
Did you know the Imperial Palace lights up in winter? It does. I went on Christmas Eve to get some photos. The night was cold, and a few clouds were about. Only two other photographers were there with the same purpose. That was better than having a crowd with me.
The whole palace wasn’t lit up, just the Tokyo Station side. I got to photograph the Seimon, Sakashita, and Otemon gates. The Fushimi, Fujimi, and Tatsumi Keeps also had lights on them.
I headed to Fushimi Keep first. Why? It served as a background for Eyeglasses and Niju bridges. The evening light faded fast, but I wanted to use it as much as possible for photos.
Otemon was special. Even though it is a part of the Imperial Palace, it’s the entrance to the East Gardens. You can enter them every day, except Monday and Friday.
Next time, I’ll take a tripod. That would allow me to take long-exposure photos. Silky smooth water on the moats with light reflecting off them would be beautiful. If I can find time in my schedule that might happen. Keep your fingers crossed. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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