This is a list of residences occupied by the Japanese Imperial Family, noting the seasons of the year they are traditionally occupied.
Members of the Japanese Imperial Family inhabit a range of residences around Japan. Some are official imperial palaces; others are used as private residences, although they are all owned and maintained by the state. Other imperial palaces are no longer residences (e.g. the Akasaka Palace). Some remain in irregular use for imperial occasions. Some of the Imperial Palaces and villas enjoy legal protection such as the Akasaka Palace which is a National Treasure or the Heijō Palace, which is a Special Historic Site and listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.
The occupied imperial residences are cared for and maintained by the Imperial Household Agency. Former palaces or sites are under the administration of various ministries or local authorities.
Current residences by residents ResidenceImperial Household Agency | The Imperial Palace and other Imperial Household Establishments Location Notes Emperor Naruhito and Empress MasakoOfficial Tokyo Imperial Palace Tokyo Official Tokyo residence; used also as the private residence. Houses the Three Palace Sanctuaries and the Fukiage Ōmiya Palace, the residence of the late Dowager Empress Kōjun. Certain parts such as the East Gardens and the Kitanomaru Park are open to the public. Only twice a year, for the emperor's birthday and New Year's day are the public allowed to enter the grounds up to the Kyuden, where the imperial family appears on the balcony. The enthronement ceremonies of the current Emperor took place at the Tokyo Imperial Palace in 2019. Kyoto Imperial Palace Kyoto Technically still the "senior palace" of the monarch; the main building on the palace grounds includes, among other halls, the Shishinden (紫宸殿, Hall for State Ceremonies), Seiryōden (清涼殿, lit. 'cool, refreshing hall'), Kogosho (小御所, Court Room), Ogakumonsho (御学問所, Imperial Study or Library), and a number of residences for the Empress, high-ranking aristocrats and government officials. Enthronement ceremonies to the Chrysanthemum Throne last took place in Kyoto in 1928.Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino and Kiko, Crown Princess AkishinoOfficial Akasaka Estate Minato, Tokyo Official Tokyo residence; located in the larger Akasaka Estate where a number of other members of the imperial family reside Masahito, Prince Hitachi and Hanako, Princess HitachiOfficial Higashi Residence Shibuya, Tokyo Official Tokyo residence since December 1976 Princess Tomohito of MikasaOfficial Akasaka Estate Minato, Tokyo Official Tokyo residence since December 1982Hisako, Princess TakamadoOfficial Akasaka Estate Minato, Tokyo Official Tokyo residence since December 1986
Current residences by type Residence Location Member(s)Official Tokyo Imperial Palace Tokyo The Emperor and Empress Akasaka Estate Tokyo The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Takamado Higashi Residence Tokyo Prince and Princess Hitachi Sanbancho Residence Tokyo the late Prince Katsura, currently unused Takanawa Residence Tokyo the late Princess Takamatsu, temporarily used by the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita since 2020Imperial estates The Imperial Stock Farm (Goryo Bokujo) Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery Tokyo Imperial Palace Imperial sericulture farm, domain of The Empress, who is personally responsible for the running and ceremonial feeding and harvesting ceremonies for silk production. Part of the silk harvest is donated by her to the Shōsōin repository.Imperial Household Agency | Activities of Her Majesty the Empress over the Past Year and Her Birthday Schedule Saitama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve (Saitama Kamoba) Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture Shinhama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve (Shinhama Kamoba) Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture Privately used Sentō Imperial Palace Kyoto all members Katsura Imperial Villa Kyoto all members Shugakuin Imperial Villa Kyoto all members Nasu Imperial Villa Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture all members Hayama Imperial Villa Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture all members Suzaki Imperial Villa Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture all members
Formerly privately used Atami Imperial Villa Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture all members Shizuoka Imperial Villa Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture all members Numazu Imperial Villa Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture all members Odawara Imperial Villa Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture all members Kamakura Imperial Villa Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture all members Miyanoshita Imperial Villa Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture all members Tamozawa Imperial Villa Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture all members
Former residences by date Residence Location Date(s) Akasaka Palace Minato, Tokyo Official residence of the Crown Prince and his family (1909–1974), now the Nagoya Detached Palace or Nagoya Imperial Villa (Nagoya Castle) Nagoya Official residence in Nagoya after the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, from 1893-1930 Heian Palace Kyoto Original imperial palace of Heian-kyō (794–1227), completely destroyed by fire and not rebuilt Fukuhara Palace Hyōgo-ku, Kobe Imperial palace of Fukuhara-kyō (1180), abandoned, destroyed over time and not rebuilt Saga Imperial Villa Ukyō-ku, Kyoto Imperial palace of Emperor Saga (814), turned into Daikaku-ji by his daughter Masako, became residence of several cloistered emperors Nagaoka Palace Mukō, Kyoto Imperial palace of Nagaoka-kyō (784–794), abandoned, destroyed over time and not rebuilt Heijō Palace Nara Imperial palace of Heijō-kyō (710–784), abandoned and destroyed over time. Partly reconstructed in the late 20th century, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" since 1998 Shigaraki Palace Kōka, Shiga Imperial palace of ? (745), abandoned and destroyed over time Naniwa Palace Osaka Imperial palace of Naniwa-kyō (744–745), abandoned and destroyed over time Kuni Palace Kizugawa, Kyoto Imperial palace of Kuni-kyō (740–744), abandoned and destroyed over time Fujiwara Palace Kashihara, Nara Imperial palace of Fujiwara-kyō (694–710), abandoned and destroyed over time Kiyomihara Palace Asuka, Yamato Last imperial palace in Asuka (672-694) before the court moved to Fujiwara-kyō Okamoto Palace Asuka Imperial palace of Asuka (672) Shima Palace Asuka Imperial palace of Asuka (672) Ōmi Palace or Ōtsu Palace Ōtsu, Shiga Imperial Palace of Ōmi-kyō (667–672) before the court moved back to Asuka Tachibana no Hironiwa Palace Asakura, Fukuoka Imperial Palace of Asakura (661–667) before the court moved to Ōmi-kyō Later Okamoto Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (656–661) before the court moved to Asakura Kawara Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (655–656) Itabuki Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (654–655) Nagara-Toyosaki Palace Naniwa-kyō Imperial Palace of Naniwa-kyō (645–654) before the court moved back to Asuka Itabuki Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (643–645) Kudara Palace Kōryō, Nara Imperial Palace of Koryo (640–642) before the court moved back to Asuka Umayasaka Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (640) Tanaka Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (636–640) Okamoto Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (630–636) Oharida Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (603–630) Toyura Palace Asuka Imperial Palace of Asuka (592–603), later rededicated as nunnery Toyura-dera Takatsu Palace Osaka Imperial Palace of Naniwa-kyō (4th century), founded by Emperor Nintoku. Other palaces also mentioned but not confirmed.
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