Imperial Palace plaza in Tokyo and the Nijubashi bridge

Most photographs of the palace show two bridges, and visitors tend to treat the pair as one monument. The Ministry of the Environment is precise on the point: the Nijubashi Double Bridge refers to the iron bridge, not to the two bridges.¹ The stone bridge in the foreground has its own name, Seimon-ishibashi, and tour guides tend to correct the common mix-up gently. Knowing the difference earns a quiet nod from a local.

That stone bridge is made of granite and was designed in a Western architecture style.⁶ Behind it stands the iron bridge, which also goes by the names Ninohashi and Tsukimihashi.⁷

The two bridges are used for official events and foreign guests, but are usually closed to the public.² So when you stand at the edge of the plaza you are looking at a working approach to the palace and not a monument turned into a footpath. Photographs are taken from the plaza side, and the view loses nothing from the distance.

The most popular portrayal of the Imperial Palace is the view of the Stone Bridge with the Main Gate on the left, the Iron Double Bridge behind it and the Fushimi watchtower in the distance.¹⁷ You take it from the edge of the plaza, and no ticket is needed.

Crossing is another matter. The Main Gate to the palace is open to the public on January 2 and for the Emperor's Birthday.¹¹ The agency's palace tour crosses the Nijubashi as well, which GO TOKYO calls a symbol of the palace and even of Tokyo.¹⁸

If neither option fits your dates, the plaza view still repays the stop. The walk is short, and the guidance on the special openings page tells you when the bridge becomes a path. Early arrival helps on those days, as long lines form for entry. Read the agency's notice for the exact hours before you set out, and wear shoes that cope with gravel and slopes.

Near the plaza stands a solid bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige, who lived from 1294 to 1336 and is remembered for his commitment to the samurai code.²⁴ The statue was made and presented to the Imperial Household Agency in 1900.¹⁰

It is pure bronze, which makes it extraordinarily heavy, and that probably helped it survive the Great Kanto Earthquake.²⁵ The ministry describes a man awaiting the return of an exiled emperor, which gives the figure its watchful posture.

The statue is one of the features lit at night, along with the arches of Wadakurabashi Bridge, Sakuradamon Gate and the stone moat walls.¹⁴ Walk to it in the evening if you have time. The figure on horseback is easy to miss in daylight, and the lighting gives it a different, more theatrical presence against the dark moat. If you like a quiet corner for photographs, this is one.

The bridge area is a 2-minute walk from Sakuradamon Station and a 3-minute walk from Hibiya and Nijubashimae stations.⁵ Kokyo Gaien is also a 10-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station.¹³

A few rules apply on the plaza. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited,¹⁹ and so are sports other than jogging and marathons, along with the use of play equipment.²⁰ Treat the lawn and pines as a garden, not a sports ground. Keep to the paths and let the trees be the attraction, which suits a quiet walk and a slow photograph.

For a guide who can point out the bridges from the right angle, the Viator walking tour behind this site starts from $13, lasts 2 hours and allows up to 15 in a group. Use the sun tool above to pick a month and a light for your photograph. The plaza is open air with little shade, so a hat and water bottle are worth carrying in the warm months.