Directory_and_Chronicle_1881 — Page 416

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402

Wheeler, Dr. E.—Bluff

Whitfield

YOKOHAMA—TOKIO.

& Dowson, engineers, &c.,

Yokohama Iron Works-69

George Whitfield

Jules P. Darbier

W. Mann

J. Deniaud

F. Frischling

Wilkin & Robison, merchants-3

Alfred John Wilkin

Richard Durant Kobison

B. Gillett

John Leckie

J. T. Esdale

F. J. dos Remedios

Winstanley, J., auctioneer and commission

agent-70

Yokohama Furniture Repository—86

E. J. Moss

Ziegler & Co., merchants-47

Chas. Ziegler

J. R. Merian

P. Stingelin

A. Alioth

TOKIO.

The capital of Japan [until the Restoration called Yedo] is situated at the north of the Bay of Yedo, has a circumference of 24 miles, and covers a surface of nearly 36 square miles. The Sumida, or Great River, runs through the city, dividing Tokio proper from the districts on the east side called Honjo and Fukagawa,

Tokio as viewed from the bay is a charming city, being well situated on un- dulating ground, and possessing abundant foliage. The city is divided into fifteen grand divisions, each of which is again subdivided into smaller sections. The houses, and even the public offices, are all numbered, which method is adopted in every town and village throughout Japan. The Castle of Tokio occupies a commanding position on a hill a little to the westward of the centre of the city. It is enclosed in double walls, and surrounded by a moat. Within the Castle formerly stood the Imperial Palace and several public offices, but the destructive fire of the 3rd of April, 1872, levelled these ancient and magnificent buildings, leaving only the surrounding lofty turrets and walls. Since this great disaster, by which more than 5,000 houses were destroyed, the Mikado has taken up his residence temporarily in one of the Daimios' palaces at Akasaka, while the public offices are now located in new brick or stone buildings in various places near the Castle. The Imperial Garden called Fukiage is situated within the enclosure of the Castle. 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, &c., and is most carefully kept. This fine garden will well repay a visit, and admission can readily be obtained by visitors.

Between the Castle and the outer walls, a large area was until recently occupied by the numerous palaces of the Daimios, but nearly all these feudal erections have now given place to smart brick or stone buildings, used as Public Offices, Barracks, Government Schools, &c., so that at the present time hardly any of the Daimios' palaces remain to illustrate what old Yedo was like in the time of the Shogunate. They were, however, large plain long buildings of a single high storey, ordinarily whitewashed, and without any pretensions to architecture.

The remaining portion of the city outside the walls is very densely inhabited, and may be called the commercial district of Tokio. It has a circumference of 24 miles. The most important part of the square miles and covers an area of about 29 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 considerable 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 As it is in close contiguity to the railway station, it is always very animated and thronged with vehicles and foot passengers.

trees on either side.

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