Akasaka Estate, Imperial property in Moto-Akasaka, Japan.
Akasaka Estate is an imperial property located in the Moto-Akasaka district of central Tokyo. The compound includes several residences occupied by members of the imperial family, along with traditional Japanese gardens featuring old trees and ponds.
The land originally served as a secondary residence for the Tokugawa clan from the 17th century and later passed to the imperial family. Emperor Meiji used the estate as his main residence from 1873 to 1888 before the Imperial Palace was completed.
The Emperor hosts twice-yearly garden parties on the grounds, welcoming around 2,000 invited guests including diplomats and figures from science and the arts. The events take place in spring and autumn and offer one of the few occasions when parts of the imperial compound become accessible to selected visitors.
The estate is not open to the public and serves exclusively for private and official functions of the imperial family. The surrounding streets allow views of the high walls and tree canopies that enclose the grounds.
The estate houses six separate residential buildings for different members of the imperial family, including temporary accommodations during renovation work. The gardens contain some of the oldest preserved trees in central Tokyo, dating back to the Edo period.
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