Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

40 ❯❯ The Top 10 of Everything

Historic Buildings

Hongan-ji Temple
Crafts Gallery
1 3
The finely finished Meiji-era
MAP N5 • 3-15-1 Tsukiji,
Chuo-ku • 3541-1131 structure, which houses the Crafts
Even in a city known for its Gallery, originally served as the
archi tectural hybrids, this temple, headquarters of the Imperial
inspired by Indian architecture, is Guard. Built in a style that came
extraordinary. Its designer, Chuta to be known as “19th-century
Ito, traveled all over Asia, and paid Renaissance,” it is one of the few
homage to the Indian origins of protected buildings in a city
Buddhism in this 1935 building. notorious for its weak preservation
ethic (see p76).
Kyu Iwasaki-tei Mansion
4
MAP F2 • 1-3-45
Ikenohata, Taito-ku • 3823-8340
• Open 9am–5pm • Adm
A fine example of Meiji-era
syncreticism, this grand 1896
wooden residence was built by
English architect Josiah Conder in a
mix of Jacobean, Gothic, and
Pennsylvanian country styles.
Original features include coffered
wood ceilings, stone fireplaces,
Imposing façade of Hongan-ji temple parquet flooring, and Japan’s first
Western-style toilet.
National Diet Building
2 Bank of Japan
MAP K4 • 1-7-1 Nagatacho,
The bank’s solid Neo-Classical
Chiyoda-ku • 5521-7445 • Open 8am– 5
5pm Mon–Fri • Closed public holidays outline was designed by Kingo
Home to the Japanese Diet, or Tatsuno, Japan’s first Western-
parliament, this building was style architect. The 1896 building
completed in 1936. It has a pyramid- stands on the old site of the
shaped dome and is divided into two shogunate’s former mint. A
main chambers – the Lower and guided tour in English intro duces
Upper Houses. Weekday tours include the structure, its history, and
the Public Gallery, Emperor’s Room, present-day function (see p75).
and Central Hall, with its floor
mosaic of a million pieces of marble. Chamber of the National Diet Building

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