Imperial palace more accessible

Japanese authorities are making it easier for tourists to visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, one of the country’s most revered sites. Visitors will now be able to tour parts of the palace — the primary residence of the Japanese emperor — without prior reservations, and information will eventually be provided in foreign languages during the 75-minute guided tour. Under the new system, up to 300 visitors will be able to make same-day registrations for the tours, and the maximum number of visitors will increase to 500. The policy change is in line with the government’s strategy to increase the number of overseas visitors to 40 million by the time Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games in 2020.