As the autumn leaves turn burning red and yellow across the city, hordes of Tokyoites flock to quintessential must-see spots like the Ginkgo Avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien or Mt Takao. But equally Instagram-worthy seasonal photo ops can be had on the usually closed-off Imperial Palace grounds, where the 750-metre-long tree-lined Inui Street is now open to the public.
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Stretching from the Sakashitamon Gate near Marunouchi to the Inuimon Gate near Kitanomaru Park, the picturesque path can be accessed until December 7, which coincides with peak autumn leaves season in Tokyo. Visitors can enter the pathway for free and without prior reservations between 9am and 3pm.
Note that entrance to Inui Street is only through the Sakashitamon Gate.
The article was published on December 6 2024 and updated on December 1 2025.
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