Imperial Palace tour (Tokyo): when online reservations open (2026-27)
According to the official Imperial Household Agency website, checked on 31 October 2026, online applications for the guided tour open at 5:00 a.m. Japan time on the 1st day of the month before your visit: the next opening is Sunday 1 November 2026 at 05:00, for tours in December 2026.
Official tickets: sankan.kunaicho.go.jp. Dates calculated on 31 October 2026.
Some of the dates on this page have passed. We calculated them on 31 October 2026: the table and the “next” dates at the top skip past dates in your browser, but the text further down may still name them. Check the official page before you book.
Museums and attractions can change their rules, add closures or release extra tickets at short notice. We quote their official pages word for word, with the date we checked them, and calculate the dates from the official rule. Before you book, check the official page. This site is not affiliated with any museum or ticket seller.
Next six months: ticket releases, free days and closures
| Date | What | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 1 November 2026 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for December 2026 | 05:00 Japan time |
| Tuesday 1 December 2026 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for January 2027 | 05:00 Japan time |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Tuesday 29 December 2026 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Wednesday 30 December 2026 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Thursday 31 December 2026 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for February 2027 | 05:00 Japan time |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Sunday 3 January 2027 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Monday 4 January 2027 | Closed – on the official list of closing days | All day |
| Monday 1 February 2027 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for March 2027 | 05:00 Japan time |
| Monday 1 March 2027 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for April 2027 | 05:00 Japan time |
| Thursday 1 April 2027 | Applications open – Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time – for May 2027 | 05:00 Japan time |
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The calendar file has the same dates as the table, with the official rule and the link in each event. It is rebuilt when we update this site; past dates are hidden from the table in your browser.
How tickets go on sale: the official rule
Online: the 1st day of the month before, from 5:00 a.m. Japan time
Application Period 5.00 a.m. (JST) on the 1st day of the month before your visit - 11:59 p.m.（JST）, 4 days before the visit.
Source: Imperial Household Agency: The Imperial Palace, Facilities and Visit Guidelines (Imperial Household Agency), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
We calculate these dates from the official rule. The next one, Sunday 1 November 2026 at 05:00 Japan time, is 20:00 in London (Saturday 31 October 2026), 16:00 in New York (Saturday 31 October 2026) and 07:00 in Sydney.
Free days, closing days and opening hours
Free days
The official pages we read list no free entry days for everyone.
Closing days: Sundays, Mondays, national holidays and 28 December to 4 January
Suspended Dates Sundays Mondays National holidays (except when the holiday falls on a Saturday) Afternoons from July 1 to September 30 December 28 to January 4 Days or tours affected by Imperial Court events
Source: Imperial Household Agency: The Imperial Palace, Facilities and Visit Guidelines (Imperial Household Agency), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Next six months: Monday 28 December 2026, Tuesday 29 December 2026, Wednesday 30 December 2026, Thursday 31 December 2026, Friday 1 January 2027, Saturday 2 January 2027, Sunday 3 January 2027, Monday 4 January 2027. Also closed every Sunday and every Monday (weekly closing days, not listed in the table). No tours on national holidays (unless they fall on a Saturday) or on days of Imperial Court events: these days are not in our table.
Opening hours: Two tours a day, morning and afternoon
Two daily tours (morning and afternoon), except on dates below.
Source: Imperial Household Agency: The Imperial Palace, Facilities and Visit Guidelines (Imperial Household Agency), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Official tickets
Official tickets for the Imperial Palace guided tour (Tokyo) are booked at sankan.kunaicho.go.jp; resellers may charge more.
Advance applications can be made in two ways: – Online – In person at the Tour Office of the Imperial Household Agency Same-day (walk-in) application: Numbered tickets are distributed at Kikyo-mon Gate (one ticket per person).
Commercial sightseeing operators and related parties are not permitted.
Source: Imperial Household Agency: The Imperial Palace, Facilities and Visit Guidelines (Imperial Household Agency), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Questions
How do you book the Imperial Palace tour?
Online from 5:00 a.m. Japan time on the 1st day of the month before your visit, in person, or on the day at Kikyo-mon Gate. The official page says: “Advance applications can be made in two ways: – Online – In person at the Tour Office of the Imperial Household Agency Same-day (walk-in) application: Numbered tickets are distributed at Kikyo-mon Gate (one ticket per person).” “Application Period 5.00 a.m. (JST) on the 1st day of the month before your visit - 11:59 p.m.（JST）, 4 days before the visit.” The next ones are Sunday 1 November 2026 (for December 2026), Tuesday 1 December 2026 (for January 2027) and Friday 1 January 2027 (for February 2027), at 05:00 Japan time.
When does the Imperial Palace tour run?
Twice a day, except on the suspended dates the official page lists: “Two daily tours (morning and afternoon), except on dates below.” “Suspended Dates Sundays Mondays National holidays (except when the holiday falls on a Saturday) Afternoons from July 1 to September 30 December 28 to January 4 Days or tours affected by Imperial Court events”
Can you get Imperial Palace tour tickets on the day?
Yes, there is a same-day application at the gate: “Advance applications can be made in two ways: – Online – In person at the Tour Office of the Imperial Household Agency Same-day (walk-in) application: Numbered tickets are distributed at Kikyo-mon Gate (one ticket per person).”
Can you book the Imperial Palace tour through a tour company?
The official page says: “Commercial sightseeing operators and related parties are not permitted.” Book directly on the official website.
Where does this answer come from?
From the official Imperial Household Agency website, read on 31 October 2026 and quoted word for word on this page. The dates are calculated by us from the official rule, from today to six months ahead; museums can change their rules, so check the official page before you book.
Other attractions
Spotted a change? Tell us. Ticket release dates: all attractions.