23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Commuting in the Imperial Palace
Amid Tokyo's crazy hustle and bustle, the Imperial Palace is an isolated sanctuary. Quite literally, since the public is not permitted inside. Everything feels different there: the historic buildings, the sprawling lawns, the quiet. During our palace-sponsored tour, I saw this worker riding a bike through the palace grounds and I had to capture it. It felt like I'd stepped back in time, almost like the modern city outside doesn't exist.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 06.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Tokyo, Japan |
| Camera: | RICOH GR IIIx |
| Copyright: | © Peng Shao |