Tokyo Imperial Palace

A view of the Imperial Palace from afar.

Today Kim and I took the train into Tokyo and visited the Imperial Palace. Built in 1457, the white palace sits high on a hill surrounded by a moat. Visitors to this area don't have close access to the building (although Kobe Bryant got a close-up shot somehow). A bridge about 200 meters away from the palace offers the closest vantage point.

We also walked around the imperial gardens, and climbed the old foundation of a large pagoda that burned down in 1657, 19 years after it was constructed. From the illustration on the sign, the pagoda looked magnificent when it existed, but now its raised foundation serves as a lookout point for the rest of the garden area. The lawns are very lush and green, as most gardens in Japan are. I wonder if the lawns stay as green year-round.

A guardhouse at which 100 samurai were once stationed.

The grounds are guarded by austere gates and three guardhouses, one of which once held 100 samurai at a time. The Emperor of Japan has always, and still does, live in the main palace on the grounds, which is why the area has had so much security in the 500 years since its construction. Kim and I ended up walking all the way around the palace grounds, and a moat and steep walls protect the palace on all sides.

It was unfortunate that we could not get a closer look at the Imperial Palace, but it was still interesting to see that very little has changed in its surroundings since it was built in 1457.

The gate to the grounds.