Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

12 ❯❯ Top 10 Tokyo Highlights

Imperial Palace Grounds

Located at the center of one of the largest cities in the developed
world, the Imperial Palace grounds sit amid a galaxy of busy urban
areas. This enormous compound con tains the magnificent
residence of the emperor, along with a variety of moats, stone
walls, watchtowers, gates, and fairytale bridges. The public areas
of the grounds are also home to several museums, galler ies, and
beautiful Japanese gardens. This is a solemn spot, resonating
with cultural meaning, and is among the few places where one
can witness the incredible persistence of history.

Sakurada-mon
1
Gate
This entrance to the outer
gardens was erected in
1457. A survivor of
earth quakes, fires, and
air raids, the entrance
consists of two structures:
one, a broad inner gate,
is angled at 90-degrees
to thwart intruders.

Ote-mon Gate
Shiomizaka
3 5
and Nijubashi
Stone walls line
Bridge the path up to the “Tide
South of Ote-mon gate, View Slope.” The small
the 1888 reconstructed promon tory once
Nijubashi Bridge (above) com manded fine views of
is a graceful sight. the sea and Mount Fuji.
The bridge is a pop u lar
National
2 Museum of backdrop for photos.
Modern Art, Tokyo Imperial 4
More than 12,000 works Palace East
by Japanese and Gardens
Western art ists are Designed by Kobori
exhibited here, dating Enshu in the early 17th
from the 19th century to century, these gardens
the present day. Works (right) feature stone
include the beautiful lan terns, bridges, ponds,
Mother and Child by swathes of flowers, and
Uemura Shoen (above). towering zelkova trees.

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