🏛️ ✅ Guide to visiting the National Diet Building

The National Diet Building, the political center of Japan, is a rare spot that can be visited for free! It's a special experience to get up close and personal with historical architecture and the actual political arena. We'll explain in detail the key points to getting around efficiently! ✅ 1. Know the types of tour courses! There are two types of tours of the National Diet Building: the House of Representatives course and the House of Councillors course. 🔹 House of Representatives Tour Course (no reservation required) • Duration: Approximately 60 minutes • Reception location: House of Representatives Meeting Room (left side of the main gate) • Tour contents: ✅ Main Assembly Hall (where Diet deliberations take place) ✅ Central Hall (where bronze statues of past prime ministers are lined up) ✅ Imperial Rest Room (used by the Emperor for the opening ceremony of the Diet) • Opening hours: • Weekdays 9:00-16:00 (tours start every hour) • Maximum capacity of one tour is 250 people 🟢 Tips: ✅ No reservation required, so go early to ensure you can participate! ✅ The 9:00 tour is relatively empty, so aim for it! ✅ There are many school trip students from October to March, so it may be less crowded in the afternoon. 🔸 House of Councillors Tour Course (reservation required) • Duration: Approximately 60 minutes • Reservation: Advance application required (reservations accepted on the official website) • Tour contents: ✅ House of Councillors plenary session hall ✅ Central hall ✅ Emperor's resting place • Opening hours: Weekdays 9:00-16:00 (time slot specified when booking) 🟠 Tips: ✅ Advance reservations are required! Apply early once your travel dates are decided! ✅ It's quieter than the House of Representatives, so it's recommended for those who want to take their time to look around! 🕒 2. Tour process and highlights 📌 Reception → Baggage inspection (approximately 10 minutes) • Check in at the entrance and undergo baggage inspection. • Bringing drinks is OK, but eating is prohibited. 📌 Plenary session hall (approximately 15 minutes) • This is where the Diet actually deliberates! • Pay attention to the seating arrangement and decorations! • Photography is prohibited, so make sure to take a good look at it! 📌 Central Hall (about 10 minutes) • A stately space lined with bronze statues of past prime ministers (Ito Hirobumi, Okuma Shigenobu, Hara Takashi). • Don't miss the stained glass on the ceiling! 📌 Emperor's Resting Room (about 5 minutes) • A special room used by the Emperor for the opening ceremony of the Diet. • Pay attention to the luxurious decorations and furnishings! 📌 Visitor's Lobby (about 10 minutes) • There is a panel exhibition that teaches you how the Diet works. • There is also a shop where you can purchase souvenirs! 🎒 3. What to bring & what to wear ✅ Wear comfortable clothes (suits are not necessary, casual is OK) ✅ Bring less luggage (no lockers & large luggage not allowed) ✅ Camera or smartphone (taking photos inside the building is prohibited, but taking photos of the exterior and gardens is OK!) ✅ ID (may be required) (especially for tours of the House of Councillors, which may be required when making a reservation in advance) 🕐 4. Recommended times & tips for avoiding crowds 🏆 Best times → 9:00am or after 2:00pm** • The 9:00am session is relatively empty, so you can take your time looking around! • There are many school trip students from 10:00am to 12:00pm, so it can get crowded. • After 2:00pm is also a good time to go! 🚨 Times to avoid → 10:00-12:00 (many school trips), late afternoon (many group tourists) 🎟 5. Enjoy it together with the surrounding attractions! The tour takes about an hour, so it's a good idea to plan your trip afterwards as well ◎ 🔹 Tourist attractions within walking distance 🚶♂️ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon) (about 10 minutes on foot) • Stroll through the magnificent Imperial Palace Outer Gardens! 🚶♂️ Hibiya Park (about 10 minutes on foot) • A green urban oasis! Take a break at a cafe ◎ 🚶♂️ Constitutional Memorial Hall (just a short walk away) • A free museum where you can learn about the history of the Diet and Japanese politics. 🔹 Lunch/cafe spots 🍽 Restaurants in Kasumigaseki Building • Enjoy a reasonable and delicious lunch that is unique to the business district! ☕️ Cafes in Hibiya Midtown • Many cafes with sophisticated atmospheres are perfect for a break! 📌 6. Summary (Points to remember when visiting) ✅ No reservation required for the House of Representatives course, but a reservation required for the House of Councillors course! ✅ Aim for the 9:00 session or after 14:00! ✅ Bring less baggage! No photography allowed inside the building! ✅ After the tour, we recommend visiting the Imperial Palace, Hibiya Park, and cafes! 🏛️ Experience history and culture at the National Diet Building, the center of Japanese politics! #DomesticTravelStrategy #NationalDietBuilding #SoloTravelRecord #DomesticTravel #Tokyo #tokyo