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JAPAN-TOKYO
SWITZERLAND-9 of 21,Shiba Koen, Tokyo Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary
Charge d'Affaires-A. Brunner Chancellor-W. Spycher
Secretary-Interpreter-K. Takatsu
UNION DES REPUBLIQUES, SOVIETISTES SOCIALISTES—1, Urakasumigaseki, Ko- jimachi-ku, Tokyo
Representant Plen. à titre d'Am- bassadeur Ex. et Plen.-S.E. M. V. L. Kopp
1st Secy.-Nicolas Kuznelzoff
Do. -Geo. Astahoff
2nd Secy.-Leon Wolf
Japanese Secy.-E. Spalarugk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-1, Eno-
kizaka-machii, Akasaka, Tokyo Ambassador-E. A. Bancroft Counsellor-Jefferson Caffery Japanese Secretary-E. H. Ďooman First Secretary-R. H. Norweb Second do. -F. D. K. Le Clereq Special Disbursing Officer-T. Č.
Smith
Third Secretary-J. H. Gray Acting Naval Attaché-Lt.-Comdr.
H. R. Hein
Mil. Attaché-Maj. P. Faymonville Commercial Attaché-H. A. Butts
TOKYO
The capital of Japan [until the Restoration called Yedo] is situated at the north of the Bay of Yedo, has a circumference of 27 miles, and covers a surface of 40 square miles. The river Sumida runs through the city, the larger part lying to the west of this waterway, while on the east lie the two wards named Honjo and Fukagawa.
Tokyo as viewed from the bay is a pleasant-looking city, being well situated on undulating ground, and possessing abundant foliage. The city is divided into 15 ward divisions, and its suburbs into six divisions. It was, in fact, until recently more like an aggregation of towns than one great city, but every year has seen greater congestion and conditions more approximating to the crowded cities of the West. The ancient Castle of Yedo, now transformed into the Imperial Palace, or Gosho, occupies a com- manding position on a hill a little to the westward of the city. It is enclosed in double walls and surrounded by a fine broad moat. Within the Castle formerly stood tre Shogun's Palace and several public offices, but the destructive fire of the 3rd of April, 1872, levelled these ancient and massive buildings, leaving only the lofty turrets and walls. A new palace on the old site has been constructed, and the Emperor took up his residence there in January, 1889. The Imperial Garden called Fukiage is situated within the enclosure of the palace. It is tastefully laid out in the pure native style, and contains fine forest trees, rare and beautiful plants of all kinds, a large pond, cascades, etc.
Between the castle and the outer walls a large area was formerly occupied by the numerous palaces of the Daimios, but few of these feudal erections now remain to illustrate what old Yedo was like in the time of the Shogunate.
The most important part of the business quarter is on the east of the castle, and is traversed by a main street running from the north to the south-west under different
names.
A section well worth a visit is the public park or garden named Uyeno, where formerly stood the magnificent temple founded and maintained by the Shoguns, and which was destroyed by fire during the War of Restoration in July, 1868. In these grounds the Industrial Exhibition of 1877 was held, when the gardens were converted into a public pleasure resort by the Government. Several exhibitions have since been held here and have proved very successful. In Uyeno is also situated the fine Imperial Museum (Haku-butsu-kwan).
Among the places much resorted to by visitors is the ancient temple of Kwannon, at Asakusa, not far from Uyeno, one of the most popular and most frequented temples in Japan. At the right of the temple there is a fine old Pagoda, and near it are two colossal stone statues. A new park was also opened close to the