Directory_and_Chronicle_1889 — Page 560

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TOKYO.

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The remaining portion of the city outside the walls is very densely inhabited' and may be called the commercial district of Tokyo. It has a circumference of 24 miles and covers an area of about 29 square miles. 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 considerable length of this thoroughfare, which is called Guinza, is lined with newly built brick buildings in the Europan style; the road is wide and well kept, the pavement broad 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 oc upied 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 converted into a public pleasure resort by the Government. Several exhibitions have since been held here and have proved very successful. Uyeno is also situated the fine Imperial Museum (Haku-butsu-kwan).

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Among the places much resorted to by visitors is the ancient temple of Quannon, at Asakusa, not far from Uyeno, one of the most popular and most frequented temples in Japan. The temple is elevated about 20 feet from the ground. A fhent 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 and ex votos. The interior is not very large, and is not go 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 We, where are to be seen some of the splendid shrines of the Shoguns, among the chieï glories of Tokyo, there are three large public gaidens within the city. The baldi gs which are called the Temple of Corfucius 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.

The districts of Honjo and Fukagawa form the quiet portion of the capital. This quarter is connected with Tokyo proper by five great bridges, some of which ar● 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 especial, commended 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 part 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 17 square miles, contains about sixty temples. The most remarkable among them is the Tera of Meguro.

Several great fires have during the last few years swept Tokyo, and these have 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 thoroughly modernised. Tramways have been laid and the cars are usually crowded with passengers. The main streets and those adjacent to them are lighted by gas, and the remainder by oil lamps. A race course has been formed close to Uyeno. Lines