Page 15 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

Imperial Palace Grounds ❮❮ 13

Imperial
6 0 9 8 2 5 TRAUMAS IN THE
Palace
Plaza GARDENS
The plaza’s pristine Kitanomaru The tranquil gardens of
lawns, cherry trees, Park Takebashi today’s palace grounds
and stands of 4 have known their fair
ornamental black Ote-bori share of drama. Victims
pines were laid out Otemachi of the great 1923
in 1899. The gravel earthquake sheltered
concourse acts as Imperial 7 here. During the war,
several mem bers of
a firebreak. From Sakurada-bori Palace Palace Plaza DORI Japan’s officer corps,
Imperial
the plaza are the Babasaka-bori HIBIYA- inconsolable at news of
best views of 1 Nijubashi- their nation’s defeat,
mae
Nijubashi bridge. Sakurada-mon came here in August
UCH IB O RI-DORI
Hibiya 1945 to commit ritual
suicide. In the 1950s
3 6 and 1960s, the plaza
witnessed violent
Nippon
8 political demonstrations.
Budokan
The colossal octagonal
Crafts Gallery
roof of the Budokan, or 0
Japan Martial Arts Hall, The former
features onion-shaped headquarters of the
finials covered in gold Imperial Guard, this
leaf. Its ornamental 1910 government-listed
elements resemble structure is now a gallery
those seen in traditional showcasing the work of
Japanese temples. Japanese craftspeople.

Wadakura
7
Fountain Park
The sprays and jets of
this aquatic park, built in
Chidorigafuchi
1961 to commemorate 9
the wedding of the The stone walls of the shogun’s former castle
present emperor and contrast with the inky waters of Chidorigafuchi moat
empress, were (above), which is home to turtles, carp, cormorants,
refurbished in 1995. egrets, and gliding swans.
NEED TO KNOW Mondays (except for public • Picnics are permitted in
MAP K1–M4 • Chiyoda, holidays). Try to visit the Kitanomaru Park, but it’s
Chiyoda-ku • www.kunaicho. grounds early: the tour better to cross the road
go.jp/eindex.html groups turn up by mid- south of the palace
Adm: for museums and morning. The best plum grounds for Hibiya Park,
galleries and cherry blossom where an outdoor café
viewing is in February and serves sand wiches,
• All museums in the late April, and azaleas noodles, and even decent
complex are closed on and dogwood in mid-May. British fish and chips.

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