Some of the finest gardens and buildings in Japan belong to the imperial household and are run by the Imperial Household Agency, not by a temple or a city. They are free or cheap to visit and far less crowded than the famous temples, which makes them excellent for clients who have seen the obvious sights. They also follow their own booking rules, and those rules were written for individuals, not for coach groups.
The sites and how each works
- The Imperial Palace, Tokyo. The East Gardens are open to the public without booking on most days. Guided tours of the inner palace grounds need a reservation, run on set days, and have a cap on how many people may join as one group.
- Kyoto Imperial Palace. Open to the public without reservation, with free admission, on most days of the week.
- Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace. Visits are by guided tour only and need a reservation.
- Katsura Imperial Villa. One of the most admired gardens in Japan. Visits are by guided tour, with a reservation, and an admission fee applies for adults. Some tours are in English at set times.
- Shugakuin Imperial Villa. Hillside gardens in northern Kyoto, again by guided tour and reservation.
Why groups need planning
- Applications are for small numbers. At the Kyoto villas and Sento, an online application covers only a few people, and the main applicant must attend. A group of twenty cannot simply be booked as one.
- Places are limited and go early. Popular tours, especially in spring and autumn, fill quickly once they open for booking. Some places are kept for same-day registration at the gate, but a group cannot rely on them.
- Age rules apply. Some sites admit only adults, and others set a minimum age for children. Family groups need to be checked site by site.
- Tours run on fixed times and days. Most sites close on Mondays and over the New Year period, and tours run at set hours. The itinerary has to fit the tour, not the other way round.
- Rules change. We confirm the current rules with the Imperial Household Agency's own visitor information for each group rather than relying on what applied last year.
Who to sell them to
These sites suit repeat visitors, garden and architecture lovers, and small high-end groups. For large groups, the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Tokyo East Gardens are the practical choice, and the villas are better offered as an option for a smaller sub-group. Our guide to repeat visitors and Japan garden tours guide cover how to sell them.
FAQ
Do you need a reservation for Katsura Imperial Villa? Yes. Visits are by guided tour, and places should be reserved in advance. An admission fee applies for adults, and some tours are in English.
Can a large group visit Japan's imperial villas? Not easily as one booking. Applications at the Kyoto villas cover only a few people each, so large groups are better split or offered the sites that need no reservation.
Is the Kyoto Imperial Palace free to visit? Yes. It is open to the public without reservation and with free admission on most days.
Want an imperial garden in your Kyoto or Tokyo programme? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
