Tokyo Imperial Palace - Experiencing heritage and culture of Japan
Introduction
Tokyo Imperial Palace, also called as Kokkyo in Japanese is the main residence of the Japanese Imperial Family. It is located at Chiyoda, Tokyo at the center of the city just minutes away from Tokyo Station. Certain areas of the Palace is open to the public, therefore attracting local and foreign visitors to view the beautiful flora and fauna that is spread across the area. This place is for those who are interested in Heritage Tourism.
Entrance to Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Content
Tokyo Imperial Palace has a very rich history which dates all the way back to the 1600's when Tokyo was still called Edo. The Palace was originally where Edo Castle was built in 1457 and in 1868 when the Tokugawa Shogun was overthrown and Emperor Meiji came in to power, the emperor made Edo Castle his new residence. However, with series of earthquakes and fires destroying a large portion of the castle area, it was decided to build a new Imperial Castle which completed construction in 1888 and is what is remaining until now. The Tokyo Imperial Palace was declared as a Special Historic Relic under the Cultural Properties Protection Law by the Government of Japan in 1963.
The Imperial Palace is divided in to several sections due to its large size.
- The main palace is to the west which is closed to public
- East Garden which is open to the public which has beautiful structures and plants
- Kitanomaru Park to the north where public can go for Sakura Viewing
- Kokyo Baien National Garden to the South with a large open space
I had the opportunity to visit the public area in 2019 and had a wonderful experience there. The vast space that is available along with a lot of historic buildings with explanation, museums showcasing artifacts and different species of plants for viewing made it feel like I was in the countryside away from all the tall buildings as bustling city.
Entrance to the East Garden
Significance of Special Interest Tourism - Heritage Tourism
The Imperial Family are an important existence to the Japanese people. They are seen as those who unite the citizens and represent the state during diplomatic visits. As the family and the palace have a very long history, it is important to keep the heritage going on as to not forget the past. All of the buildings have gone through a lot of destruction during the numerous wars, earthquakes, fire and other disasters and stood still with minimal damage. Therefore, it is highly important to preserve such a monument. Foreign guests visit the palace not only to see and experience first hand the history but also to view the beautiful flowers that are planted by the Imperial Family themselves. It is not only a pride to the local people which represents them but the heritage can connect foreign guests with the locals who have come all the way to Tokyo. It not only allows history to be learnt but is also an attraction for tourists to visit.
Foreigners viewing the bridge (Photo by Tsunagu Japan)
Stakeholders involved
Due to the significance of the Imperial Family and Imperial Palace, the stakeholders involved are the Imperial Household Agency which is under the Government of Japan. However, the agency is not related to the ministry and is an Independent Administrative Institution. The planning is done by the government and the organization is done by the Imperial Household Agency. All matters related to the Imperial Family including their properties are managed, maintained and preserved by them. In short, they are the property of the State.
Target Audience and their motivation
Tokyo Imperial Palace have several target audiences. The first one are those who are interested in historic buildings, culture and heritage of Japan and are willing to find information and experience the area first hand to understand what the premise is about which would not only increase their knowledge but also allow them to make memories over there.
Secondly, those who are interested in botany may be interested in visiting the Tokyo Imperial East Garden. The area is really beautiful with a lot of different species of plants. There are ponds, teahouses, abundant trees and more. One of the most famous is the Prefecture Trees where a tree from each prefecture in Japan is planted and viewable. There are not just Japanese plants but also other species such as European Pines, Bamboo's and more. This attracts those who are not only interested in Heritage Tourism
but also those interested in Garden Tourism.
Exploring Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
Types of Product
Apart from all of the historic sites and greenery that can be viewed, the palace also offers a tour which is conducted daily for free which lasts for around 75 minutes and is done in both English and Japanese.
Museum of the Imperial Collections in the East Garden is a museum which showcases nearly 9800 works of art which was donated by the Imperial Family to the Government of Japan. It also features Chinese art and calligraphy dated centuries ago and the exhibits change on a regular basis.
Exterior of the Museum (Photo by Imperial Household Agency)
Inside of the Museum (Photo by Imperial Information Channel)
Potential Impacts
While the number of local and foreign tourists are increasing in Tokyo every year, the impact to the environment is minimal. This is because the Tokyo Imperial Palace is a highly protected and preserved area. Development around the surrounding of the palace can be seen based on the picture posted below, but that has not changed anything inside the palace area. Restoration and Preservation projects are done on a frequent basis which means that the buildings are well structured which would keep visitors safe and also the historic site safe from frequent earthquakes.
High Rise Buildings near the palace
An increase in tourists may also lead to an increase in waste and unruliness but the area is patrolled by the Imperial Guards and Local Police therefore making the surrounding heavily guarded which makes it extremely safe. There have been instances where some unruly foreign tourists had caused an uproar by trying to enter the main palace which is off limits but were apprehended immediately. The entire area is also cleaned immediately as there are staff present all over which makes it extremely clean. It should also be noted that Japanese people tend to keep public areas clean which makes a positive difference.
Clean surroundings of the Tokyo Imperial Palace
The biggest challenge is maintenance of the Palace. Palace related expenses which include maintenance and also other properties amounted to 11.83 billion JPY. As the expenses increase every year, the people of Japan are becoming dissatisfied as public taxes is being used for Imperial Family while a part of the public struggles with daily expenses. A further increase may cause uproar and negativity against the Imperial Family. Development of new facilities, maintenance of flora and fauna would also become more expensive in the coming years. After the COVID-19 pandemic when tourism restarts, there would be an increase is tourists who would visit the palace. This could result in an increase of waste disposal and unruliness as a result of culture shock. This could be an issue where the foreign tourist might think its okay but not acceptable in Japanese standards.
Recommendation
While the Palace is well maintained due to its importance, it would be more beneficial if they can further expand the variety of flora and fauna in the area. They can start hosting more events that the public can participate in such as tree planting, volunteer cleaning and more. This would allow the community to engage with each other. This should be extended to anyone who is willing to participate especially foreigners as this would be an attraction and a valuable experience. They could also increase the number of multilingual tour guides to ensure that Rules and Etiquettes are being followed by the foreign tourists and also to enhance their experience to learn the heritage of the place.
Conclusion
Tokyo Imperial Palace is home to a lot of heritage and culture and should continue to be preserved for the future generation so they could experience the past. It should not ride along with all the new changes that is being done in the surrounding areas where high rise buildings are emerging at a rapid pace. Visitors who are interested in Heritage Tourism would not miss the opportunity to visit the place and experience the authenticity of Japan and its rich heritage which cannot be experienced elsewhere.
Main Gate to the Imperial Family's Residence (Restricted Area)
Stone Structure and Trees
References
皇室情報チャンネル. (n.d.). 三の丸尚蔵館が増築から建て替えに変わった謎！上皇陛下のお引越し遅れの原因か？｜皇室情報チャンネル. [online] Available at: https://www.nipng.org/archives/1159 [Accessed 22 Oct. 2021].
Japan-guide.com. (2017). Tokyo Imperial Palace. [online] Available at: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3017.html.
Kunaicho.go.jp. (2021). Imperial Household Agency : Visit Guide. [online] Available at: https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html [Accessed 22 Oct. 2021].
Kunaicho.go.jp. (2021). The Imperial Family - The Imperial Household Agency. [online] Available at: https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2021].
Ting, K. (2015). The Imperial Palace, Tokyo 皇居. [online] Dream Of A City. Available at: https://dreamofacity.com/2015/07/12/the-imperial-palace-tokyo- [Accessed 22 Oct. 2021].
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