The Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is a "don't miss" in Tokyo. However, Savannah may disagree and tell you that the Children's Castle in Shibuya is a "don't miss." The Imperial Palace (Kyuden) completed in 1968 is a ferro-concret structure and consists of 7 buildings. The Imperial Palace's grounds are located on the site of the former residential palace of the successive Tokugawa Shoguns in the Edo Period. The Emperor moved here from Kyoto which had been the Imperial capital for more than 1000 years. Since then this is where the Emperor has resided. The palace burnt down in 1945 the present Palace was bult and completed in 1968. The current Emperor still lives there today and ceremonies and funtions are still held on the grounds. Therefore, touring the grounds are very restrictive. It is free to tour the grounds with a guide, but you have to make reservations in advance and the East Garden is not open every day. So I made our reservations weeks ago for a day the baby would not be here and that the East Garden was open. There are only two days a year that the Palace is open to the public on December 23rd (the Emperor's Birthday) and January 2nd. So, we got to tour the grounds inside the gates with two security guards and about 100 people. It was similar to touring Buckingham Palace, but longer and not in English. It was a very crowded tour, it was in Japanese with an English audio and it was an LA day instead of San Diego--uncomfortably warm, overcast, hazy and a girl with an attitude. Savannah did not want to tour the Palace from the moment we got there and kept wanting to get out of her stroller (which she couldn't with 100 people on a tour and having to stand in certain spots). She kept saying she wanted to eat, but when we went to eat she ate nothing, so that was just a manipulation technique or out of boredem. So it wasn't very pleasant for Mommy and we learned oru lesson that a tour is not a good thing for a toddler, even a usually well-behaved todddler, so we are not touring Mt. Fuji or Nikko or anywhere else on this trip. She was happier in the East Garden where she could walk around and then we found a Starbucks on the way back to the train station. She had her mango orange juice and chips and part of a lemon scone. We went back to Roppongi and ate at the Mexican Restaurant in Midtown and Rich was thrilled to speak Spanish to the Mariachee Band. Savannah wouldn't eat her rice because there were spices in it, but the food was delicious and beautifully displayed. We walked back to the Oakwood and Rich went back to the market. Savannah was in a good mood the rest of th night and watched Dora and Kipper until after midnight. She is totally back on her home schedule. Sleeping until after 10 and going to bed later and later. Today is rainy and overcast and a Venti day. We are going to Shinagawa to the Aqua Stadium which is an indoor aquarium with a dolphin and sea lion show and many exotic fish and a restaurant where you are surrounded by the fish tanks. It is located in the Shingawa Prince Hotel which is very fancy and upscale and the whole area is supposed to have upscale hotels, restaurants, and shopping. There is a also an amusement park and bowling alley in this hotel. It is across the street from the train station, so that should be easy and fun for Savannah. The rest of the trip is focused on and around our wonderful children. 25 hours until sweet baby boy comes back. We miss him so much. Our family will soon be complete and be a family of 4.

Savannah reading about the tour and deciding if she is going to like it or not. NOT! Going through the gate to start the tour. You can see the mass of people. Since you had to make a reservation I thought it was restricted. There were two groups and probably over 100 people.

Starting the tour and already starting up.

This was my favorite site. Fujimi-yagura.

Fugimi-yagura. Watch tower reconstructed in 1659 and is one of the oldest remains of the Edo Castle. It is 15.5 meters high.

I don't think Savannah is very impressed with the Fujimi-yagura, but Rich and I were. I am guessing Seth would have been as impressed as Savannah and would have been eating or sleeping.

Kunaicho Chosha-The Imperial Household Agency Bldg. This building is the head office of the Imperial Household and was constructed in 1935. The 3rd Floor of the building was used as the temporary Imperial Palace for some years after WWII unitl the new Imperial Palace was built.

Sannomaru Shozokan-The Museum of the Imperial Collections. Collection 6,000 art pieces owne and inherited by the Imperial Family and donated to the Japanese government in 1989.

Seimon-tetsubaashi Bridge and Fushimi-gagura Keep

Seimon-tetsubashi Bridge is commonly called "Nigubashi"and is loved by people.

Savannah's stroller got stuck in the stones for this picture.

Would not look up and say cheese. Pretty picture though, but we were not supposed to take pictures on the bridge. Whoops. We listened to the audio of that part afterwards. Nobody stopped us though and everyone was taking pictures and video.

Beautiful mix of old and new.

Yamashita-dori Street--we took this from the bridge back to the main gate. How gorgeous is the landscaping? I am going to tell our landscaper I would like my yard to resemble this.

Girl with an attitude. I gave her my audio to listen to the end of the tour.

Last stop on the tour--the Hasuikebori, which is the lotus moat, but the lotus flowers are not blooming yet. It is too early.

One last view of my favorite site as we walked back to the start--the Fujimi-yagura

Much happier now that she is out of her stroller and strolling through the East Garden. She liked the flowers and saw bees and ants.

The East Garden with a City View

Running free in the East Garden

She loved this grass and there were plenty of people having a picnic, sitting, running, etc.

Savannah wanted to go see this waterfall and when we got there she noticed it is an X.

Tokagakudo Concert Hall-Constructed in 1966 in honor of the 60th Birthday of the Empress Kojun (deceased in 2000) who was a great lover of classical music. The roof is in the hspae of a flower and the sides are all mosaic. It is beautiful.

Walking towards the Site of Tenshukaku Donjon Honmaru. This is all that is left of the Edo Castle constructedin 1607. It was destroyed in the great fire of 1657. It has never been reconstructed and only the stone wall that formed its foundation remains today, which is 10 meters high.

View from the Edo Castle foundation. It has ramps to go up.

Another view from the East Garden. Imagine if the weather was clear.

Walk along the waterfront on the way back to the train station. Imperial Palace on one side and city on the other. Tons of runners along the waterfront.

Pretty views on our walk back.

The Cherry Blossoms are still very pretty here.

A hazy view of the Tokyo Tower from the Imperial Palace grounds.