From royal residence to Japan’s fanciest accommodations, the Akasaka Palace is a different vision of Japanese hospitality.
Akasaka Palace, or the State Guest House, was once a true royal palace. After being built as a unique Neo-Baroque structure in the turn-of-the-century Tokyo, it was indeed used as a residence for Japan's crown prince for a number of years in the 1920s. These days, the majestically-constructed mansion belongs to the government, and is often used to house visiting dignitaries. But owing to the building's reputation as one of Japan's most beautiful examples of Western architecture, and even one of the largest buildings constructed during the Meiji period, Akasaka Palace is now an official National Treasure of Japan, and draws crowds of interested visitors.
Leaving Yotsuya station and walking towards the palace, I strolled down a wide road lined with tall trees, providing a little shade in the summer and some lovely golden leaves in the fall. The palace appeared in the distance like a scene from a fairytale!
If this is how the outer gate looks, what could be waiting inside!?
The official entrance was further on. Your average visitor enters the grounds via the west entrance, where tickets are sold. When buying your ticket, you can choose how much you want to see.
Main Building/Garden: Adults: 1,500 yen, University Students: 1,000 yen, Junior & Senior High School Students: 500 yen, Children elementary school-age and under: Free
Japanese Style Annex/Main Building/Garden: Adults: 2,000 yen, University Students: 1,500 yen, Junior & Senior High School Students: 700 yen
Japanese Style Annex/Garden: Adults: 1,500 yen, University Students: 1,000 yen, Junior & Senior High School Students: 500 yen
Garden: General: 300 yen, University Students & under: Free
*Children 12 and under are not allowed into the Japanese style annex.
I decided to just stick to the garden, which totally surrounds the main building. In back a large fountain creates a calming atmosphere, surrounded by pine trees and flowers that bloom with the changing seasons.
Returning to the front of the building, I took some pictures in front of the grandiose entrance, a vast European-style door that towered above me!
The main building doesn't look like it belongs in Japan.
(This is what it looks like inside!)
If you stop by Yotsuya Station during your time in Tokyo, I highly recommend a visit to Akasaka Palace! It's a totally different view of Tokyo.
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It's my fourth year living in Tokyo now, and I love wandering Japan looking for good food, lovely new places, and the best tourist attractions throughout the country.
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