Chiyoda (Imperial Palace Outer Gardens)

Imperial Palace Course

A Tokyo running classic: an approx. 5km counterclockwise loop along the moat.

Night run
Loop
Near station
Classic

Distance: Approx. 5.0km
Laps / route type: Approx. 5km per lap
Night running: ◎

File:Wadakura Fountain Park.jpg — © Kakidai / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped for display)

Course essentials

Imperial Palace Course: essentials
Distance	Approx. 5.0km
Laps / route type	Approx. 5km per lap
Nearest station	Otemachi Station (Approx. 2 minutes on foot from Exit D2)
Meeting point	Wadakura Fountain Park
Night running	◎ Many streetlights keep the route bright at night. Plenty of runners make it approachable for a first night run.

Highlights

An approx. 5km loop without traffic lights
City views of the moat, stone walls and Nijubashi Bridge
Many running stations nearby

Seasonal notes

Chidorigafuchi is famous for cherry blossoms in spring.

Route map

Download GPX

Import it into an Apple Watch-compatible app such as WorkOutDoors to view the route and check your pace.

GPX data is generated from schematic route lines. Loop courses contain one lap, including connecting paths; the Meguro River course contains the full out-and-back route, including station access. Track lengths may differ from the published distances.

Route animation

Preview the course in this video.

Aerial preview

A preview video that traces the route over satellite imagery, from start to goal, followed by on-site photos along the course.

Satellite imagery: Esri World Imagery (© Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics). An aerial-style preview created from satellite imagery — not Google Earth footage. The ground-level part uses CC-licensed on-site photos from Wikimedia Commons; credits appear in the video and in the photo list.

Run itinerary

Cumulative 0.0 kmMeet and start (Wadakura Fountain Park)
Cumulative 1.5 kmNear Hirakawa Gate
Cumulative 2.8 kmNear Chidorigafuchi
Cumulative 3.8 kmNear Sakurada Gate
Cumulative 5.0 kmPass Nijubashi Bridge and finish (Wadakura Fountain Park)

Course photos

**File:Imperial Palace Tokyo Hirakawamon gate 2.jpg**
© Chris 73 / CC BY-SA 3.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Chidorigafuchi -01.jpg**
© Aimaimyi / CC BY-SA 3.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Sakuradamon01s3200.jpg**
© 663highland / CC BY 2.5
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Imperial Palace Tokyo Nijubashi Bridge.JPG**
© Chris 73 / CC BY-SA 3.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:The Wadakura fountain park (1213459393).jpg**
© Masato OHTA / CC BY 2.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:和田倉噴水公園 - panoramio (1).jpg**
© くろふね / CC BY 3.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:View from 大手濠緑地.jpg**
© Syced / CC0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Walk around Takebashi 2.jpg**
© Syced / CC0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Sakura at Nippon Budokan (13577658114).jpg**
© Yoshikazu TAKADA from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Chidorigafuchi03s3000.jpg**
© 663highland / CC BY 2.5
View original on Wikimedia Commons

**File:Tokyo Marunouchi Skyscraper and Imperial Palace (10903448776).jpg**
© Yoshikazu TAKADA from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0
View original on Wikimedia Commons

Lockers & running facilities

Raffine Running Style Otemachi One (1,100 yen, lockers and showers, weekdays 7:00–22:00), plus several other running stations nearby.

Cautions

Follow local etiquette: run counterclockwise and keep left. Pedestrians have priority
Busy on weekends and before races

Photo credits for this course

View all sources & credits

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