Kokyo

Kokyo (皇居, Kōkyo) is the Japanese Imperial palace. It was built in 1888 in central Tokyo, and was the former seat of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the Imperial court moved to Tokyo from Kyoto and the former Tokugawa stronghold became the residence of the Emperor of Japan.

It was destroyed during the Second World War by bombing, but was rebuilt in the same style in 1968.

Most of the palace is generally off limits to the public, but the East Gardens are usually accessible to tourists. The inner palace is only open to the public on two days during each year, the Emperor's birthday and New Years (January 2).