Inui Street and its beautiful autumn colors
I love the Imperial Palace. It might be my favorite place in Tokyo. Luckily, a few events each year allow me (and you) inside. One is for the Emperor’s birthday and another is his New Year greetings. There are more. My favorite is the autumn Inui Street walk. What’s that you ask?
The Imperial Household Agency opens the castle in autumn. Yes, the palace is a real one. The Shoguns used to rule from it. Do you remember the Tokugawas? Anyway, the Sakashita Gate opens and the public enters to walk along Inui Street to enjoy the leaves. Then they leave through the gate on the far side. It’s a great event.
That’s right you go right through the middle of Emperor’s castle. Of course, you won’t see him during this event. That won’t happen as you must stick to Inui Street. Security abounds to make sure no one wanders off. The route is strictly one-way. Don’t worry, there are toilets.
The 2024 trees were in fair condition. A few ginkgo trees are visible from Inui Street. But people go for the maples. Actually, the palace isn’t covered in those, but I was satisfied. Some of the reds grabbed my attention for sure.
Where is my favorite photo for this event? It’s Fujimi Keep. The Shoguns ruled from it when the donjon was destroyed in the 1657 fire. Today the Marunouchi’s skyscrapers are behind it. The contrast between old and new is amazing. With a nearby maple tree, the scene is perfect for a photo.
The walk through the palace is pleasant. If you dislike crowds I suggest going on a weekday. Monday to Friday usually has fewer people than the weekends (but that’s not always true). You can see the numbers on this Imperial Household Agency website. It is in Japanese, so use Google Translate to read it.
By the way, I have an awesome idea for Inui Street. It would be amazing if it were held at night. That would be mindblowing. Would the Imperial Household Agency be receptive to that? I wish I knew someone there.
Did you know I’ve been there a few times before? I have. Actually, I’ve lost count of how many times but it’s been a lot. My 2023 features more information about Inui Street, like how many trees and things to see. So I’ll leave this one here. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy the photos. Leave questions and comments below.
Date of photos: 6 December, 2024
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and okonomiyaki. His camera will photograph the entire city one day
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External related websites:
- Imperial Household Agency (official website)