Akasaka Palace

The Japanese Palace that doesn’t look very Japanese

Most people like to stop by the Imperial Palace located near Tokyo Station, but the Akasaka Palace is equally interesting. The main palace building used to be home to the Crown Prince and his family, though it is now used for official state visits (the Crown Prince lives on the same grounds in a more modest building). This palace is really cool if you get a chance to stroll the grounds, but you have to time it right. The palace only opens to the public for a limited time during the summer. If you decide to go, I recommend heading out early because the garden does not have much coverage from the sun. If you want to stop by the palace outside of the visiting season, you can take a look at the palace from the gates. It can offer some neat photo opportunities, and it is a great companion stop with the Imperial Palace in Maronouchi.