The public opening of Inui-dori at the Imperial Palace, which began on November 29, has drawn large crowds each day, helped by mild weather. On December 2 as well, many people came from early morning to enjoy the vividly colored trees.
The autumn opening lasts nine days, through December 7. Visitors enter at Sakashita-mon, walk straight past the Imperial Household Agency building, then follow Inui-dori and exit at Inui-mon. The path was first opened to the public in April 2014 to mark the 80th birthday of Emperor Emeritus Akihito. It is held each spring and autumn; after cancellations during the pandemic from spring 2020, it resumed in autumn 2022.
Japanese maples and Chinese maples along Inui-dori are beautifully colored, and visitors—including travelers from overseas—have been taking photographs with their smartphones.