The park contains approximately 2,000 Japanese black pine trees, some of which are centuries old.
The bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige was erected in 1900 to commemorate his loyalty to the Southern Court.
The vast gravel-covered areas were designed to allow for security visibility and to prevent unauthorized entry to the palace gates in historical contexts.
The garden area was formerly part of the inner circles of the Edo Castle, which served as the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The site is a popular gathering point for New Year's and Emperor's Birthday public appearances by the Imperial Family.
Kokyo Gaien National Garden is a public park located in the Chiyoda district, serving as the outer precinct of the Imperial Palace. The site spans a large area of open gravel and manicured pine forests, providing clear vistas of the Nijubashi Bridge and the surrounding palace moats. It is managed by the Ministry of the Environment and functions as a significant green space within the dense urban center of Tokyo. The garden occupies the former grounds of the Edo Castle's outer defenses. Visitors can view the bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige, a prominent historical figure from the 14th century, located within the park grounds. The landscape is defined by its wide, gravel-covered paths and extensive clusters of Japanese black pines. It acts as an open-air transition zone between the bustling city streets and the restricted Imperial Palace grounds.
The view of the double stone bridges (Nijubashi) framed by the palace gate and the moat.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes as the extensive gravel paths can be fatiguing.
Bring sun protection, as the open layout of the park offers very little natural shade.
Visit during the early morning to avoid the high volume of tour groups that typically arrive after midday.
Attempting to access the Inner Palace grounds from this garden; separate guided tour applications are required for interior access.
Stay on marked gravel paths; do not climb on the stone walls or enter the restricted palace moats.
