The "public opening of Inui-dori," where you can enjoy Imperial Palace autumn leaves, is busy day after day. The photo above is the December 1 Mainichi Shimbun morning edition Tokyo metropolitan page, reporting the first day of the Inui-dori opening. According to the article, 71,792 people visited in one day — astonishing. Viewing of the Daijokyu is running in parallel, and many people enjoy both as a "combination." Both last through December 8, so if you plan to go, please go soon.
Inui-dori is open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.). You enter at Sakashita-mon, go straight past the Imperial Household Agency building, then along Inui-dori and out at Inui-mon; you can also leave the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace via Nishi-Hanebashi midway on Inui-dori and exit at Ote-mon, Hirakawa-mon or Kita-Hanebashi-mon.
Daijokyu viewing during the period is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.): enter at Sakashita-mon, turn right in front of the Agency building, proceed under Fujimi Yagura, then exit the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at Ote-mon, Hirakawa-mon or Kita-Hanebashi-mon.
After entering Inui-dori you can also join the Daijokyu route from Nishi-Hanebashi midway. Details are on the Imperial Household Agency website (http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/event/inui-r01aki.html)
With this course, in any case many people come down Kinokuni-zaka toward Takebashi after leaving Inui-mon or Kita-Hanebashi-mon =photos below, left, and at lunch on the 3rd, blessed with fine weather, the B1 and first-floor restaurants had long lines and a great crush =photos below, right.
As we have introduced each time, the Inui-dori opening began in the spring cherry season of 2014 to mark the then Emperor (now Emperor Emeritus) turning 80 in December 2013; it was well received and settled as an event for spring cherries and autumn (winter) leaves, carried into Reiwa as well.
The Mainichi Shimbun ran a color advertising special in the evening edition of the 30th to match the opening =photos right, below. Besides a foliage guide, it includes a Palaceside Building guide.
This week, except Saturday the 7th, the forecast is generally fair. When you visit the Imperial Palace, please stop by the Palaceside Building. (The Palaceside Building is closed on Sundays. December 8 is also closed, and restaurants and shops are not open; please note.)