Yokoamicho Park - Japanese Garden

Yokoamicho Park is known as Memorial Park for the Kanto Earthquake Disaster.
It has a Japanese Garden beside the Tokyo Memorial Temple.

It has a pond and a stream surrounded by many different kind of plants.

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<The Nearest Station>

Ryogoku station on Oedo Line (E12/Toei Subway)
JR Ryogoku station on Sobu Line

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Fumiko Hayashi Memorial Museum

Fumiko Hayashi is a female novelist who lived here from 1941 through 1951 till her death.

She spent a lot of time to design this house.
Her priority is living room, bath room and kitchen.

There're various kinds of plants in the garden so that she can enjoy flowers in any seasons. There's another garden on the hill on the other side of the house.

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<The Nearest Station>

Nakai station on Seibu Shinjuku Line
Nakai station on Oedo Line (E32/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

150 yen
10:00 - 16:30
Closed on Mondays, Dec.29 through Jan.3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Hirakawamon Gate

Hirakawamon Gate is the back yard gate close to Ooku.
The wooden bridge still remains.

These gates and bridge is the original and these are the oldest ones made in 1457.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Kitahanebashimon Gate

Kita means North, Hanebashi means Drawbridge and Mon means Gate.
So, Kitahanebashimon means North Drawbridge Gate.

This gate was important because it's the closest to the main buildings.
And stone walls are the largest and the moats are the deepest.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Hommaru

Hommaru is the main building of the castle.
The castle tower was built in 1606 but burnt down in 1657 due to a big fire in Edo city. It has not been built again after that. Only stone wall base remains.

There used to be Hommaru building on the lawn area including Ooku which is Shogun's harem.

Original Fujimi Yagura burnt down but it's rebuilt in 1659 and still remains.
This is much smaller than castle tower, however, it helps to imagine how castle tower looks like.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Shiomizaka

Shiomizaka means hill to watch ocean tide.
We cannot see the ocean from here now.
Tokyo bay was much closer in Edo Era before land reclaimed from the sea.

It's a slope between Ninomaru Area and Hommaru Area.
Hommaru is the main area of the castle on the upper side.

There're huge stone walls and moats between these areas.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Ninomaru

Ninomaru is the lower area in East Park of Imperial Palace.
It has traditional Japanese garden with a pond.

There are many trees and flowers here.
A tea ceremony house was rebuilt in Meiji Era.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Sannomaru

Sannomaru is an area near Otemon gate.

Sannnomaru Shuzokan is a small museum which exhibits arts, letters and crafts owned by imperial family.

Three guardhouses remain in Sannomaru area.
The largest guardhouse keeps 100 guards all the time to check people who came to the castle.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Imperial Palace - East Garden - Otemon Gate

Otemon Gate was the main gate of Edo Castle.
Original gate was built in 1607.

You'll get to Sannomaru Area in Edo Castle.
Only major feudal loads were assigned as guards here.

Current gate was rebuilt in 1968 after it burnt down in 1945 by bombing.

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<The Nearest Station>

Otemachi station on Mita Line (I09/Toei Subway) /
Chiyoda Line / Tozai Line (C11/T09/Tokyo Metro)

Gate open
Mar. 1   through Apr. 14  9:00 - 16:30
Apr. 15 through Aug. 31  9:00 - 17:00
Sep. 1  through Oct. 31   9:00 - 16:30
Nov. 1  through Feb. 28   9:00 - 16:00

Closed on Mondays and Fridays, Dec. 28 through Jan. 3

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Yumenoshima Park - Tropical Greenhouse Dome

There're three glass domes and tropical plants are in here.
Around a big greenhouse with many tropical plants and subtropical plants, there's a theater, information gallery and event hall.

Heats are supplied from a incineration plant nearby.

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<The Nearest Station>

Shinkiba station on Keiyo Line / Rinkai Line

<Admission>

250 yen        9:30 - 17:00

Closed on Mondays, Dec.29 through Jan. 3

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