back next Tokyo, Japan Historic Site Photos, PURCHASE FOR GREAT MEMORIES OF YOUR TRIP TO TOKYO, JAPAN- FOR HOME OR OFFICE. This gallery features Tokyo, Japan images with a focus on historical sites. Imperial Palace Once called Edo Castle, one enters at a Gate of the Field of Cherry Trees. The Palace construction was completed in 1640 and featured 99 gates, 21 watchtowers, large moats, and 28 armories. As you enter, one can get a nice view of the National Diet Building (houses Japanese Parliament- building which took 17 years from 1920 to build. Palace ground images featured in this gallery include the Nijubashi(Two tiered) bridge with the new Imperial Palace Building in the background, close up of the Palace facade, entering the Imperial House East Gardens at Ote-mon Gate, one encounters Watari-yagura-no-Shachi of the old Ote-mon gate. This stylised dolphin in the 1600s was used as a roof finial of the watari-yagura, a building used for storage. A decorative lamp located close to Ninomaru Garden was used to illuminate the Nijuubashi Bridge from 1893 to 1986. Senso-Ji Temple Located in the Askusa Umaimono-kai area, Senso-Ji was built in the 13 th century. Is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. It survived the 1923 earthquake, but not the WWII bombing and was rebuilt. One enters at the Kaminarimon Gate (thunder gate) with the large characteristic lanterns which is a landmark. It burned down in 1865 and was rebuilt in 1960. Passing though the gate, one enters and walks through the Nakamise-dori- shops on both sides leading to the temple. One then approaches the Houzoumon Gate, which was built in 1964. Is two story and holds a treasure house upstairs. Just prior to entering the gate, to the left is the Five Story Pagoda entitled Gojyuunotou that is a replica of the real one and was reconstructed in 1973. Continuing, one finds an incense burner, surrounded by people who waft the smoke over them to keep healthy. To the right of the temple, is an area to wash hands prior to entering the temple. The temple main hall consists of a gold plated main shrine housing the Kannon image. Worshipers pay respect by lighting candles and throwing coins in a grated well for good fortune. Exiting the temple just past the Hozo-mon on the right is the Nade Botokesan Buddha. The statue of Buddha has been polished by hands rubbing its head and face for good luck and wishes for cures of various ailments. Hama-rikyu Gardens The Imperial family donated the gardens to the city of Tokyo in November, 1945. The area was heavily damaged by allied bombing and previous earthquakes. It was restored and opened April 1, 1946. The Garden dates back to 4th Tokugawa Shogun in 1654 (Edo period) who built a beach pavilion and called it Hama Goden (Beach Palace). Key things to view include: Nakajima-no-ochaya – Tea house built in 1707 used by Shoguns, Imperial Court Nobles. Tea house was renovated in 1983 and is located on Shiori-no-ike pond that changes in depth pending tidal flow. Only tidal water pond still in existence in Tokyo. tsutai-bashi, 118 m long bridge made of Japanese cedar. Completed in 1997. local Japanese, some in kimos, by teahouse and on Nakajima bashi (bridge) 300 year old pine- planted by 6th Shogun when garden was renovated. Peony Garden and other gardens. The Kabuki-za in Ginza This theater opened in 1889 and features the traditional Japanese kabuki. One can enjoy a single show called a Makumi with no reservations. The building is one of the oldest surviving examples of the use of Western building materials and techniques in traditional Japanese architecture style. The front gable was added to the building in 1925 after an earthquake. The building was damaged by Allied bombings in 1945 and was rebuilt in 1951. It is a great location to photograph Japanese women in traditional dress. Zojoji Temple A Buddhist Temple built in 1393 and moved to the current location in 1598. It is located in Minato-ku, south Tokyo near the Tokyo Tower. All but the main gate was damaged by earthquakes and devasted by Allied bombing in 1945. The Temple grounds feature numerous buildings, a stone image of Buddha's footprint, Mausoleum where you can see the graves of six of the Japan’s fifteen shoguns plus some of their wives and concubines, the Himalayan cedar planted by General Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, when he visited in 1879. Stone jizo figures in rows, colorfully clothed and decorated. Each is in memory of an unborn or ill child who has passed away before his or her parents. Some useful travel resources are: Tokyo and Japan Visitor Site Japan Temples and Shrine Sites