Like so much of Tokyo the Imperial Palace has been burned to the ground several times over. That's what comes of building such beautiful structures in dark wood. The history of the Palace is fascinating but all you can see is the park, the main sections are still home to the Japanese Emperor and unlike the Queen of England who has to put up with visiting strangers trapising though her house for the summer months, the Japanese royal family is only put out for two days a year, though one of them is the Emperor's birthday, so no big messy parties for him then.

The park that you can see is very attractive though, and the Emperor would have a lovely view of dark trunked pines with bright green sprouting needles held in neat bunches like a well rehearsed cheer leading team.

Several large wooden gates have survived as well as some bridges and gate houses. All the architecture, including the white towers of the palace you can see in the background slightly raised over the moat are like the beautiful Japanese wood prints of old.

Walk around to the interior garden which you're allowed to stroll though. The grounds are very ordered and very green as you would expect and though the vista is simple and sparse the atmosphere is peaceful – a pocket of green quiet right next to some of Tokyo's busiest streets.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

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