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The is the Imperial Palace of Japan and the residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo and is close to Tokyo Station. It is roughly the size of Central Park, which has an area of 3.41 squared kilometers.
After the Meiji Restoration and the resignation of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Tokugawa shogun, the Imperial court moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and the former Tokugawa stronghold of Edo castle became the residence of the emperor. From 1888 to 1948, it was called ''Kyūjō'' (宮城, "palace castle"). The palace precincts include the Three Palace Sanctuaries (''Kyūchūsanden'', 宮中三殿).
Most of the palace is generally off-limits to the public, but the Imperial Household Agency conducts tours. Also, the East Gardens are usually accessible to tourists. The inner palace is open to the public on only two days during each year, the Emperor's birthday and at the New Year (January 2).
The buildings of the Imperial Palace were constructed by the Takenaka Corporation.
During the height of the 1980s Japanese property bubble, the palace was purportedly valued by some as equivalent to the value of all the real estate in the state of California[1].

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Other historic imperial palaces

External links

Other historic imperial palaces

★ Heijo Palace in Nara, the Imperial Palace during the Nara Period (710-784)

★ Kyoto Gosho - Imperial palace at various locations in Kyoto, residence until the move to Tokyo in 1868.

External links

★ Kunaicho | The Imperial Palace and other Imperial Household Establishments

★ Kunaicho | The Imperial Palace (photos)

★ Information on visiting the Imperial Palace on the Emperor's birthday

★ Imperial Palace Guide @ Picturetokyo.com Information and Gallery