Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

CENTR AL T OK Y O  75

9 Tokyo q Imperial Palace
International Imperial Palace
Forum Map 3 A5, 3 B5, 5 A1, 5 B1. 
Tokyo International Forum Nijubashi stn, Chiyoda line. £ Tokyo
stn, many lines. Imperial Palace:
Map 5 B2. Tel (03) 5221-9000. Open Jan 2, Dec 23. East Garden of
 Yurakucho stn, Yurakucho line; the Imperial Palace: Tel (03) 3213-
Tokyo stn, Maru nouchi line. £ Tokyo 1111. Open 9am–4:30pm Tue–Thu,
and Yurakucho stns, many lines. Sat, Sun (Mar–Oct: to 5pm; Nov–Feb:
Open 7am–11:30pm daily. to 4pm). ∑ kunaicho.go.jp
∑ t-i-forum.co.jp/en
Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa
Designed by the American-based shogun, started building his
Rafael Viñoly, and completed in castle here in 1590. In the Edo
1996, the Forum is one of down- The imposing granite exterior of the period his successors made
town Tokyo’s most distinctive Diet Building this into the world’s largest
and enjoyable buildings (see castle; now only the inner
p29). A cultural center, it is made 0 The Diet Building circle remains. The emperor
up of two buildings: a curved, Hibiya District and the Diet Building
and his family still live in the
glass atrium soaring 60 m western part of the grounds
(200 ft), and a cube-like, white Map 2 F3, 5 A2, 5 B2.  Kokkai- in the Imperial Palace, rebuilt
structure housing four halls Gijidomae stn, Chiyoda & Marunouchi after the previous one was
lines; Hibiya stn, Toei Mita, Chiyoda &
(the largest seating 5,012). A Hibiya lines. Hibiya Park: Open 24 bombed in World War II. Public
tree-shaded courtyard separates hours daily. Diet Building: Tel (03) access is allowed twice a year: at
the two, while glass walkways 5521-7445. Open 8am–5pm Mon–Fri. New Year and on the emperor’s
provide an overhead link. 8 (compulsory, by reservation). birthday. The rest of the
The interior of the huge ∑ sangiin.go.jp/eng/index.htm grounds, bounded by the moat,
atrium is filled with light and is divided into public parks.
has a ceiling resembling a ship’s Completed in 1936, the Diet The most famous landmark is
hull. There are shops, cafés, and Building houses the legislature the Nijubashi, a double-arched
restaurants, all supported by of the Japanese govern ment, stone bridge, east of the palace.
state-of-the-art facilities original ly established as Completed in 1888, it was the
including high-speed Internet the Imperial Diet in the Meiji palace’s main en trance. The
access available in the lobby. era. Tours (in Japanese only) huge Otemon (Big Hand Gate),
cover the well-worn rebuilt in 1967, was the main
inside, including gate before Niju bashi was built.
the Diet chamber, Now it is the entrance to the
where you can see East Garden of the Imperial
the deliberations Palace. Just inside is
of Diet members, Sannomaru Shozo kan, a
and the extrava- collection of art and artifacts of
gantly decorated the Showa Emperor. Beyond is
rooms formerly used the Edo-era Hyaku nin Basho,
by the emperor for where 100 samurai lived while
official functions. standing guard in shifts. Behind
Nearby is Central is the Honmaru, the castle’s
Tokyo’s only main keep, now just massive
Western-style park, stone walls with good views
Hibiya Park which from the top. To the east of
is the focus of the the Honmaru is the restful
Hibiya district. Ninomaru garden, landscaped
The park’s location, by shogun Iemitsu in 1630.
close to the
political centers
of Kasumigaseki
and the Diet
Building, makes it
a favorite place for
public protests,
especially on May
Day. The large
bandstand is also
The airy glass-and-metal interior of the Tokyo occasionally used A glimpse of the Imperial Palace
International Forum for concerts. over Nijubashi

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