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 con- gestion 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 commanding 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 the 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 situat- ed 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 thees 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 Uyeuo, 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 temple about the same time as that of Uyeno. Thus, with Shiba, in the southwest, where are to be seen some of the splendid shrines of the Shoguns, among the chief glories of Tokyo, there are three large public gardens within the city.
The districts of Honjo and Fukagawa form a distinct industrial portion of the capital. Here is the centre of the lumber and other trades. This quarter is connected with the rest of the city by six great bridges, some of which are constructed of iron and some of wood. They are called, commencing on the north, Adzuma-Bashi, Umaya-Bashi, Ryogoku-Bashi, O-Hashi, Shin-O-Hashi and Eitai-Bashi, respectively. From these the traveller may obtain a fine view of the animated river-life of the Sumida, whose waters are always covered with junks and boats of all descriptions.
A great part of the remaining area forming the district north of the castle, a few years ago covered by paddy fields, is to-day covered by "suburbs" of great extent, well served by the municipal tramway system. There are also extensive pleasure gardens, such as Asuka-yama, and neat little villages. The part west of the palace contains 50 temples, and a number of nobles' palaces. The district on the south of the palace, with an area of about 17 square miles, contains about 60 temples. The most remarkable among them is Fudo-sama in Meguro.
Several great fires have swept Tokyo during the last two decades, and these have led to great improvements and widening of the streets. The last of these broke out on September 1st, 1923, following upon a very severe earthquake. The casualties due to this terrible visitation were as follows, according to a return issued in November by the