518
TOKYO.
A considerable
running from the north to the south-west under different names. length of this thoroughfare, which is called Guinza, is lined with newly built brick buildings in the European style; the road is wide and well paved, and planted with trees on either side. As it is in close contiguity to the railway station, it is always very animated and thronged with vehicles and foot passengers.
The north end of the main street leads to the new public park or garden named Uyeno, which was formerly occupied by the magnificent Temple founded and main tained by the Shoguns, and which was destroyed by fire during the revolution in July, 1868. In these grounds the Industrial Exhibition of 1877 was erected, when the gardens were at great expense converted into a public pleasure resort by the Government. The second exhibition was held on the same site, in March, 1882, under the superintendence of a prince of the Imperial family. It is intended to hold one of these exhibitions every four years. It was in the Uyeno Park that the Mikado and General Grant were entertained by the citizens of Tokyo in the summer of 1879, on a scale of magnificence unprecedented in the annals of the city.
Among the places much resorted to by visitors is the ancient temple of Quannon, at Asakusa, not far from Uyeno, one of the most beautiful, most venerated, anl most frequented temples in Japan. The temple is elevated about 20 feet from the ground. A grand flight of steps gives access to the interior. There is a chief altar at the extreme end of the temple, with side chapels at its right and left, containing a great number of wooden images, which, with the "glory" round their heads, resemble the images of Catholic saints. The interior of the temple is not very large, d is not so conspicuous for cleanliness as most of the public buildings in Japan. At the right of the temple there is a fine old Pagoda, and near it 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 South West, 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 The buildings which are called the Temple of Confucius were formerly the University of Tokyo, but this has been superseded since the Restoration by the Tokyo Dai-gaku-kö (Tokyo University), and other schools in which Foreign instructors are employed. There are altogether 1,275 temples in Tokyo, some of which are fine edifices. Not far from Shiba is situated the new Museum (Haku- butsu-kwan), which contains many valuable antiquities as well as specimens of all Japanese productions and manufactures.
The districts of Honjo and Fukagawa form the quiet portion of the cap This quarter is connected with Tokyo proper by five great bridges, some of which are constructed of stone and some of wood. They are called, commencing on the north, Adsuma Bashi, Umaya Bashi, Riogoku Bashi, Ohashi, and Yeitai Bashi respectively. The quay on the banks of the Sumida forms a spacious and handsome street, and may be especially recommended to a traveller who has only a few days to spend in Tokyo. In passing along the quay, he will see across the stream several fine temples and great buildings which stand on the western bank of the Great River, and he may get at the same time a very good idea 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 is covered by paddy fields, in the midst of which rise picturesquely situated houses. There are also extensive pleasure gardens, such as Aska-yama, and neat little villages. The surface covered by paddy fields and pleasure gardens may be estimated at 4 square miles. The per West of the Castle contains fifty temples, and a number of nobles' palaces. The district on the South of the Castle, with an area of about of 17 square miles, contains about sixty temples. The most remarkable among them is the Tea of Meguro.
Several great fires have during the last few years swept Tokyo, more especially that of April, 1872, which led to great improvements and the widening of the streets. Rows of good houses in brick and stone, and new bridges, in many cases of iron or stone, have been built, and the city has in many portions been thorough y modernised. Tramways have been laid and the cars are usually crowded with