No hace falta reservar. Mejor visitarlo en horas de comida. De 11 am a 2 pm.

We just went on the 27th of December. No reservation required. They will give you a tag at the entrance. We were not charged with any fee. You can download audio guidance via a QR code at the waiting area once you cleared the tag allocation area. However, your bags will be checked on your way in.

I don't think there are any official change of guard/parade nor shows inside the Palace nowadays. Only "invited guests" are permitted inside the Palace for official functions while visitors are not allowed.

Currently entrance to the palace ground and park are free while advanced reservations for entry are no longer necessary. However English guided tours are still available periodically thereat on several occasions of the day except on Mondays when the palace grounds are closed.

Its true, you do NOT have to book tour in advance, its offered free of charge and as part of a package. Once you buy the entrance ticket, you have the option of picking up a pamphlet and going around yourself, or you can wait at a designated waiting area. The guided tours are conducted several times in the day, like 10:00 am, 12:00 noon etc. You can even call and find out once there. Or just land up, before 1 pm, it may require you to while away a bit of time...but you will definitely get a guided tour. The best part, the guides are really good!

Closed on Mondays. However, if Monday is a holiday, it's closed on the following day. No longer have to apply for permission, Yes.

Yesits closed on Mondays. You can use an online application.

Our impression is that reservations are highly preferable if not required and we were able to do that on line on a couple weeks in advance on their website. There are Japanese language and English language tours which are scheduled separately for each group. I had the impression that if there are open spaces that may not not been booked that you can join that tour - but that was based on a casual observation and so please do not count on that. In any case, you must have your passport with you even for a reserved ticket, so please be sure to have it with you. Sorry we can't answer definitively.

Sorry I don't speak your language. I used google translate. ;) I just did a google search and it seems you can't register on line. Apparently you have to do it in person, at least 20 minutes before the tour. "Permission needed. Children should be accompanied by adult (20 years old or over). Groups must be smaller than 9 per tour. (Larger groups must have separate tour times and must apply for permission in a different way). Tour Times 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Aplly for permission in advance (at least 20 minutes before the tour time) at the Office. Passport or Alien Registration needed to enter. Japanese intepreter also need Identification card (ID card). Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays, on other days determined by the Agency, and during Dec. 25 through Jan. 5. Address and Telephone number: Imperial Household Agency, Kyoto Office, 3, Kyoto-Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602 Japan. (075)211-1215. Office hour: 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday (Closed on national holidays). We would like you or someone for you to come to the Imperial Household Agency, Kyoto Office, to apply for permission in person, either in advance or on the same day of your tour before scheduled tour time ( Passport or I.D.card necessary ). Please note that making reservations by mail and/or by phone to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace is no longer acceptable."

You'b better book a tour and reserve the time, due to March is very busy time in Japan. On line book is fine, with form and passport information.