Ed and I decided that we wanted to have another Hanami, one last look at the sakura, cherry blossoms. So, off we went to the Imperial Gardens. The current Imperial Palace (Kokyo is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo. It is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Edo Castle used to be the seat of the Tokugawa Shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until1867. In 1868 the shogunate was overthrown, and the country's capital and Imperial Residence were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In 1888 construction of a new Imperial Palace was completed. The palace was once destroyed during World War II, and rebuilt in the same style, afterwards.
The palace buildings and inner gardens are not open to the public. Only on January 2 (New Year's Greeting) and December 23 Emperor’s Birthday, visitors are able to enter the inner palace grounds and see the members of the Imperial Family, who make several public appearances on a balcony. The Imperial East Gardens are open to the public throughout the year except on Mondays, Fridays and special occasions. On this day we are visiting the East Gardens.
You can see the damage to the gatehouse from the earthquake.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Kokyo Higashi Gyoen) are a part of the inner palace area and are open to the public. They are the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defense, the honmaru (main circle") and ninomaru ("secondary circle"). None of the main buildings remain today, but the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses still exist.
Hyokunen bansho, guardhouse, This was the biggest guardhouse set in front of the Ote-san-no-non gate leading to Honmaur, inner citadel and Ninomaru, second citadel, for inspection of visitors who entered from Ote-non-gate, main gate during the Edo Period. One hundred samurai guardsmen chosen from among kinsmen and loyal retainers of each of the four main branches of the Tokugawa clan had their quarters here and worked in shifts day and night.
Ed was amazed at the size of the stones used to make the wall.
Ed and I were very impressed with the pine trees. These are the same type of pine tree that we have in Louisiana. They prune them to look this way. We have a lot of work ahead of us when we get home.
Bansho, guardhouse
The gardens and people having their Hanami, snacks and drinks and visiting with family and friends
more gardens and sakura, cherry blossom, trees
Ed and Myra having their own Hanami and toasting the last of the sakura, cherry blossoms, in the East Imperial Garden.
Fujimi- Yagura, Mt. Fuji View Keep. Yagura is a building for both storage and defense. There used to be 19 keeps in Edo Center. Of the 19 keeps surrounded Edo Castle, only 3 still remain. This keep was named for Mt. Fuji which could be seen from here in former times. This was a very important building in those days since it served as substitute for the dungeon destroyed by fire in 1657. It was also used as the place from where the shogun enjoyed views of fireworks at Ryogoku and Tokyo Bay.
The last of the sakura, cherry blossoms, in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. Just so you know, Ed likes to have a person in every picture so that is why you get to see so much of me.
Ed and the moat and some times I get to take the picture so he will be in it.
Ed loved the contrast, the new against the very, very old.
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