Six residences are currently located on the grounds of the estate. At its rough center is located a Japanese style garden, the Akasaka Imperial gardens, where the Emperor holds twice a year a garden party to which are invited around 2000 political figures, diplomatic representatives and celebrities in various fields. There are six main access gates. The Main gate and the Samegahashi gate are along road 414 on the northern side, the East gate and the Tatsumi gate face East, the South gate faces Aoyama-Dori ave., and the West gate faces Gaien-Higashi dori ave. on the southwestern side of the estate.
History
The estate was part of the grounds of the spare residence in Edo of the powerful Tokugawa clan of Kii, granted in 1632, which at 145,381 tsubo was one of the largest daimyo residences of the city. In 1823, a fire destroyed the main residence of the clan in Kojimachi, turning that spare into their main Edo residence. At the Meiji restoration, the head of the clan, Tokugawa Mochitsugu, became a Kazoku noble and lived in the estate. In 1873, a fire broke down and destroyed the Nishinomaru palace of the Edo castle, where the Emperor was staying. Mochitsugu opened on the very day his Akasaka Residence of the estate to the Emperor, who lived there for 15 years. Another residence on the soutwest of the estate was given to Empress Dowager Eishō, as the Emperor wanted to have her close. After that point, the grounds of the estate have been used to build several residences and palaces, be it for crown-princes, Empresses dowager, or close family members. On the North side of the estate, where the site of the initial Akasaka residence was, a Tōgū palace was built in 1909 and became the Geihinkan. After the second world war, the Geihinkan was split from the estate and became National property, whereas the remaining estate remains Imperial property.
Current residences of the estate
There are currently 6 imperial residences on the estate, in clockwise order:
Located roughly 200m to the south of the Yushintei The Akasaka East Palace was achieved in 1984 and is mainly used as a temporary residence for Imperial family members during works. Late prince Takamado used it while his own residence was being built. It was refurbished in 1989 by adding offices and dependencies and was used as a temporary palace for Naruhito several times. There are plans to include this palace in the nearby Akishino residence.
Akishino Residence
The residence of built in 1931 and an expansion built in 2000, further expanded for the birth of Hisahito. Prince Akishino moved in in 1990. Since 2019, the complex is being refurbished and renovated, works will last until 2022. The family lives a few meters to the East in a temporary palace built on purpose, called Gokagusho'''. Currently Prince Akishino, his consort Kiko, their two daughters Princess Kako and Princess Mako, and their son Prince Hisahito live in this residence.
East Residence of Mikasa
The East residence of Mikasa is located southwest of the Akishino residence. This 2 floor building was achieved in 1982 as a residence for late Prince Tomohito, who died in 2012. This 2 floor building has 15 rooms, not taking into account the handmaid dependencies. At the time of the Prince's death, Princess Nobuko was living separately from her consort since 2009, leaving the residence to their two daughters, princess Akiko and princess Yoko. When the prince died, the Mikasa imperial lineage was merged and the building renamed East residence of Mikasa.
Residence of Mikasa
Located south of the estate, the Residence of Mikasa has been in use since 1970 by late Prince Mikasa and consort.
Takamado Residence
The residence of Takamado is on the south side of the estate, next to the Residence of Mikasa. It was finished in 1986 as a residence for late Prince Takamado. The residence is a 2-floor Art Decohipped roof reinforced-concrete building. It has 19 rooms and a garden with a pergola. Two of Prince Takamado daughters have left the Imperial family after their marriage to commoners, leaving the widow Princess Hisako, and one daughter, Princess Tsuguko, as remaining members of the branch in the Imperial family.
