Imperial Couple go out of Palace for stroll

April 2, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko went out of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo for a stroll of about 10 minutes on Monday morning, Jiji Press has learned.

The couple usually stroll within the palace as part of their morning routine. It is rare for them to leave the premises for a walk.

Walking slowly arm in arm, the Emperor and the Empress occasionally exchanged words as they enjoyed views of spring with cherry blossoms blooming.

The couple first appeared at the Kitahanebashi gate of the palace, guarded by police officers. As they strolled, they looked at trees as well as a poster illustrating various kinds of cherry blossoms.

When they reached the Inui gate, the Emperor and the Empress smilingly waved to joggers and other people who stopped in surprise to see the couple. They returned to the palace after that.

The palace's Inui Street was opened to the public from March 24 through Sunday, in time for the peak bloom period for cherry blossoms in Tokyo.

A tourist from Taiwan visiting Tokyo with his wife said that he knew it was the Emperor at the initial sight. He said he was very lucky that he could see the Imperial couple on his last day in Japan. Jiji Press