The best city hikes and walks in Japan

Imperial Palace Tokyo 皇居 The Imperial Palace Tokyo 皇居, Kōkyo, "Imperial Residence" is the residence of the Tennō, the Japanese Emperor. The imperial residence is located on the former grounds of Edo Castle in the present-day Chiyoda district of the district of the same name in the center of Tokyo. After the Meiji Restoration and the overthrow of the shogun, the imperial court was moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tōkyō, and at that time also Tōkei ("eastern capital"). The city's castle, until then the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns, was visited by the emperor on November 26, 1868, and renamed Tōkei-jō (東京城, Ger. "Castle of the Eastern Capital"). On May 9, 1869, he made the residence used by the last shogun in the western district (Nishi-no-maru) his permanent seat and renamed it Kōjō (皇城, Ger. "Imperial Castle").[1] On May 5, 1873, this residence burned down. Until the completion of the new residence in the same location in a Japanese-Western mixed style in 1888, called Kyūjō (宮城, Ger. "Palace Castle"), the imperial family used the Akasaka Imperial Residence for 15 years. In World War II, the buildings were destroyed by bombs. The palace got its current name in 1948. Until 1968, the complex was rebuilt in a modern style. The architect was Yoshimura Junzō. Text / Source : wikipedia.org https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiserpalast_Tokio

Imperial Palace 皇居エリア Garden strolls, art treasures, and grounds tours of an imperial castle The Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan, built on the former site of Edo Castle, where the shogun lived before 1868. Protected by wide moats and thick walls, and surrounded by carefully tended gardens, the grounds offer a peaceful, green contrast to the steel and glass of Tokyo's modern downtown office buildings. Runners, cyclists, and strollers, couples, and families visit the outer palace grounds. There are also guided tours of the grounds, and you can view the Imperial Collection of Art for free. Text / Source: Japan.travel/en https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/2121/

Burg Himeji 姫路城 Himeji-jō Himeji Castle (Japanese 姫路城, Himeji-jō) is located in the city of Himeji in the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo. It is one of the oldest surviving structures from 17th-century Japan. The castle complex, consisting of 83 individual buildings, is considered the most beautiful example of Japanese castle architecture and is nicknamed Shirasagijō (白鷺城, Ger. "White Heron Castle"), a reference to its white exterior walls and roofs. Despite its architectural beauty, such as its spiral floor plan, its defensive structures (nawabari) are highly developed, so the castle was considered practically impregnable. Himeji Castle is one of Japan's national cultural treasures, was declared a Special Historic Site (tokubetsu shiseki) in 1956, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The first buildings of the castle were constructed at the beginning of the Muromachi period in 1346. The architect is considered to be Akamatsu Sadanori, who had previously built the Shomyoji Temple at the foot of Mount Himeji, on whose site the castle complex now arose. Text / Source : wikipedia.org https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Himeji

Himeji Castle 姫路城 Himeji-jō Himeji Castle (Japanese 姫路城, Himeji-jō) is located in the city of Himeji in the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo. It is one of the oldest surviving structures from 17th-century Japan. The castle complex, consisting of 83 individual buildings, is considered the most beautiful example of Japanese castle architecture and has the nickname Shirasagijō (白鷺城, meaning "White Heron Castle"), an allusion to its white outer walls and roofs. Despite its architectural beauty, such as its spiral floor plan, its defensive structures (nawabari) are highly developed, making the castle practically impregnable. Himeji Castle is one of Japan's national cultural treasures, was declared a Special Historic Site (tokubetsu shiseki) in 1956, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The first buildings of the castle were constructed at the beginning of the Muromachi period in 1346. The architect is considered to be Akamatsu Sadanori, who had previously built the Shomyoji Temple at the foot of Mount Himeji, on whose site the castle complex now stands. Text / Source: wikipedia.org https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Himeji

Himeji Castle 姫路城 Himeji-jō Himeji Castle (Japanese: 姫路城, Himeji-jō) is located in the city of Himeji in the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo. It is one of the oldest surviving structures from 17th-century Japan. The castle complex, consisting of 83 individual buildings, is considered the most beautiful example of Japanese castle architecture and has the nickname Shirasagijō (白鷺城, lit. "White Heron Castle"), an allusion to its white exterior walls and roofs. Despite its architectural beauty, such as its spiral floor plan, its defensive structures (nawabari) are highly developed, so the castle was considered practically impregnable. Himeji Castle is one of Japan's national cultural treasures, was declared a Special Historic Site (tokubetsu shiseki) in 1956, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The first buildings of the castle were constructed at the beginning of the Muromachi period in 1346. The architect is considered to be Akamatsu Sadanori, who had previously built the Shomyoji Temple at the foot of Mount Himeji, on whose site the castle complex now stands. Text / Source: wikipedia.org https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Himeji

Burg Himeji 姫路城 Himeji-jō Himeji Castle (Japanese: 姫路城, Himeji-jō) is located in the city of Himeji in the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo. It is one of the oldest surviving structures from 17th-century Japan. The castle complex, consisting of 83 individual buildings, is considered the most beautiful example of Japanese castle architecture and bears the nickname Shirasagijō (白鷺城, German for "White Heron Castle"), an allusion to its white exterior walls and roofs. Despite its architectural beauty, such as its spiral floor plan, its defensive structures (nawabari) are highly developed, making the castle practically impregnable. Himeji Castle is one of Japan's national cultural treasures, was declared a Special Historic Site (tokubetsu shiseki) in 1956, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The first buildings of the castle were constructed at the beginning of the Muromachi period in 1346. The architect is considered to be Akamatsu Sadanori, who had previously built the Shomyoji Temple at the foot of Mount Himeji, on whose site the castle complex now stands. Text / Source: wikipedia.org https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Himeji

The walk around the Imperial Palace is very nice, especially at the end of March when it's almost cherry blossom time.

Be careful because it's very crowded, so you have to factor in huge queues.