Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 317

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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 trans- formed into the Imperial Palace, or Gosho, occupies a commanding position on a hill in the centre of the city. It is enclosed in double walls and sur- rounded 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 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 success- ful. In Uyeno is also situated the fine Imperial Museum (Haku-butsu- kwan), the Tokyo Gallery of Fine Arts, the Academy of Music and a small Zoological Garden.

Undoubtedly the finest recent addition to the capital is the Meji Shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji, (1868-1911), and its beautiful outer garden which includes a fine stadium for athletic meetings and football matches, a huge baseball ground, a swimming pool and an imposing Meiji Art Gallery.

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 temple about the same time as that of Uveno. 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, in addition to the Meiji Shrine garden mentioned above.

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 ten splendid bridges all re- built since the earthquake. The biggest of them 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..