You have to wear your most comfy walking shoes today if you want to walk around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo with me. The reason is that we have to walk more than five kilometers. Our walk will take us around the palace walls, moats, across bridges, through gates and gardens. On our way we will not only see various historic monuments within the palace teritory but intresting things ouside its teritory, too.
The history of the Edo Castle dates back to the 12th century when the Edo clan built their mansion here. In the 15th centrury it underwent a large scale renovation under the leadership of samurai Óta Dókan (1432-1486). In 1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu established his government headquarters in Edo and the castle was transformed into a castle befitting to the residence of the Shógun. Edo became the center of his political power.
The inner compound of the Edo Castle, surrounded by the inner moat, was the heart of the castle, consisting of various palaces including Honmaru = the shogun´s residence, and Nishinomaru = the residence of the shogunal heir. The Honmaru palace consisted of the Shogunate´s central administrative office – Omote – lit. front, the shogun´s living space – Oku – lit. inner area and the living quarters of the shogun´s principal wife and his family, known as the Óoku – lit. great inner area.
The castle tower was built in 1607 and after two reconstructions, a 5 story castle tower was completede in 1638. However the tower was burned in the great fire of Meireki in 1657 and was never rebuilt. Thereafter, the Fujimi yagura watchtower served as the symbol of Edo Castle in place of the castle tower.
The area within the outer moat was known as the só-gamae. The area outside of the inner compound was the outer compound, which included the warrior´s quarters, townspeople´s quarters, and temple and shrine land that were placed carefully according to the zoning plan.
Meganebashi Bridge and Fushimi Yagura Seimon = Main Gate to the Imperial Palace – however it is not open to the public Fushimi Yagura behind a Japanese black pine tree Nijubashi – Double Bridge, Fushimi Yagura and Japanese black pines Double vision 🙂 Japanese black pine trees. It is said that the real beauty of the pine tree can be seen only in Japan Sakashitamon = Sakashita Gate. Behind this gate there is the Imperial Household Agency Building. In February 1862 a group of six samurai from the Mito Domain attempted to assasinate daimyó Andó Nobumasa, the ruler of Iwakidaira Domain in front of this gate. He was badly injured but survived the attack. This event is known as Sakashitamon incident
Kikyómon = Kikyo Gate Here the Kikyó moat is the border between the Imperial Palace grounds and the new Tokyo Kikyó moat
Ote-mon Gate is the entrance to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace = the Imperial Family ´s Gardens. We have just walked outside the area of the Imperial Palace until now. It´s about the time to enter the accessible areas of it through this gate 🙂 In the past this gate used to be guarded by as many as 120 men Watari-yagura-no-Shachi of the Ótemon Gate. Watari-yagura was a building for storage and defence of the Ótemon gate which was damaged in April of 1945 during World War II. Such stylized dolphins used to be the roof finials of Watari-yagura. According to the date carved on the head it is believed that the fish was made after the gate was destroyed in the conflagration of 1657. The present Watri-yagura building of Ótemon gate was reconstructed in 1969 Chaenomeles speciosa – flowering quince Doshin bansho Guardhouse. A bansho means a guardhouse. Doshin bansho is one of the three guardhouses still remaing. Samurai guardsmen kept constant watch especially on the members of lord´s retinue who entered through Ótemon gate Hyakunin-bansho guardhouse – was the biggest guardhouse set up in front of the Ote san no mon gate leading to Honmaru = Inner Citatel and Ninomaru = second citadel. Visitors who entered from Otemon gate = main entrance were inspected here in the Edo Period. One hundred samurai guardsmen, chosen from among the Kinsmen and loyal retainers of each of the four main branches of the Tokugawa clan, had their quarters there and worked in shifts day and night Óbansho = Great Guardhouse is one of the three guardhouses still remaining. It is believed to have played a crucial role, since it was the final checkpoint. It was strictly guarded by samurai guardsmen of higher rank than at other guardhouses. On top of the slope, there used to be the entrance gate called the Chú-jaku mon to Honmaru – inner citadel Fujimi-yagura = the Tower to see Mt. Fuji. Fujimi = viewing Mt. Fuji, yagura = tower. From 1659. In the past it served as an important defence tower as it is built on 15 m high stone walls on the south edge of Honmaru = the inner citadel of Edo castle. As Edo castle was never attacked, Fujimi-yagura did not see any real battle. Formerly Mt. Fuji could be seen from here, it is located 100 km away. However, at present the view is blocked by high rise buildings We are standing on the site of Matsu no ó róka Corridor. Every Japanese knows that this is the locus of the unfortunate event when Lord Asano Takumino-Kami Naganori attacked and wounded Lord Kira Kózuke no Suke Yoshinaka in 1701. With this the Story of the Forty sever Loyal Rónin – samurai without a master is connected. Matsu no ó róka Corridor was named after the long corridor decorated with paintings of pine – matsu – trees. It was the second longest corridor with tatami mats in Edo Castle Ishimuro Stone Cellar – There are different rumors that it was an underground passage or treasury and so on. It seems to have been used as an emergency storehouse for inner palace´s supplies as it is near the inner palace´s back room. It has an area of appr. 20 square meters and it is made of Izu ishi = an zangan stone found in Izu Peninsula. Its ceiling is a long stone slab We are peeping into the area where the imperial family lives – into the Imperial Palace grounds. This area is not accessible to the general public and within it, among other buildings, there is the Imperial Palace = kyuuden – itself. But I do not think it is seen in this photo Tókagakudó Concert Hall – Peach Blossom Music Hall. It is named after the “Peach-blossom” emblem of Empress Kójun. Empress Kójun = Princess Nagako (1903-2000), mother of present-day emperor Akihito, celebrated her 60th birthday in 1963. On this occasion the music hall was commissioned. Ferro concrete octahedron, constructed 1964-1966, designed by a Japanese architect Kenji Imai (1895-1987). Roof is shaped like clematis petals Outer decoration of the Tókagakudó Concert Hall – detail. The architect Kenji Imai saw the work of Antoni Gaudí in Spain. He liked it very much and the ornamentation of this concert hall was inspired by him – colourful ceramic tiles and and broken tile mosaics are used. Each side of the octagon is different – representing different seasons of the year Tenshudai – remains of the main tower – base. After Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo Castle in 1590, its main tower was built three times. The first tower was built in 1607. The third and the last one built in 1638 was 58 m high from the ground = the tallest and largest castle main tower ever built in Japan. It had 5 floors. However, it burned down in the great fire in 1657. These seen stone walls were constructed in 1659 as the base of the main tower. The rebuilding project was stopped when this base was completed as and influential uncle of Tokugawa Shogun advised him that given the stability of the Shogunate, a new main tower was no longer needed Kitahanebashi-mon Gate will lead us to a bridge and to Kitanomaru parkKitahanebashi-mon Gate = Northern drawbridge gate – and there really used to be a draw bridge This is the view of Hirakawa-bori moat
Inuimon – Inui Gate = Northwest GateThe National Museum of Modern Art, Crafts Gallery located in the Kitanomaru GardenJapanese General Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847-1895), bronze, cast in 1903 by Shinkai Taketaró (1868 – 1927). Located in Kitanomaru Garden next to the Crafts Gallery
Embracing Columns by HAIAMI Shiró – in front of Crafts Gallery of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo Chidorigafuchi moat
“Migracion” = Migration – 1997 by Taller Sebastian, presented from the Mexicans to the people of Japan on the occasion of the centenary of the Japanese migration to Mexico (1897-1997). Material – steel plate, dimensions 4,2m x 4,2m x 2,4m, weight = 1000kg
The National Diet building completed in 1936 Sakurada moat
Sotosakuradamon Gate of Edo Castle, currently called Sakuradamon. It was originally built in the Kanei era (1624-1644). The existing gate is basically as it was reconstructed in 1663. On 3rd (24th) March 1860, the Japanese Chief Minister Tairo li Naosuke was assassinated by a group of samurai who seceded the Mito-han feudal state outside this gate. This event is known as the Sakuradamon incident. The gate was damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and repaired afterwards
