Akasaka Palace

Originally built in the early 1900s as the Imperial Palace for the prince (apparently he and the king did not want to share a palace) and now functioning as the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace. The building, garden and grounds have been designated a national treasure and are simply breathtaking in beauty. Akasaka Palace is also unique because it is the only example of Neo-Baroque architecture in all of Japan (think Buckingham Palace.)

As the State Guest House is still in use, an advance reservation is necessary if you wish to take a tour of the interior. It costs 1000 yen but is worth it to see the royal meeting rooms and lavish interior decor, complete with beautiful paintings, elegant tapestries, gigantic marble pillars and plenty of gold. However, the exterior garden is exquisite and the grounds are available to tour without a reservation.
Nearby: Tōgū Palace, which replaced Akasaka as the palace of the prince.