The last time we visited Japan, we didn't know that one can visit beyond the moat that surrounds the inner part of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This trip we managed to get a spot in one of their English Tour group as there are only 2 slots a day which are the 10am and 1:30pm for weekdays.
Advance booking are required. One can apply by phone or via Internet -----> http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/koukyo.html IT IS FREE!!!
we booked ours a month ahead. Well one can only book 1 month in advance. Once we booked through their website, a pdf file of the notice permit to visit the imperial palace is sent to our email. Just print it out and bring it on the visit day or just show them the permit number
we were so excited to be there that we were the 1st one waiting in line at the Kikyo-mon gate
we were given a brochure about the spots that we would be visiting
and we are in
once we are in the compound of the imperial palace we are lead to a Visitor house where they play a video explaining about the buildings that we will be visiting on the tour and the history of the palace. To our surprised it was a rather big crown that day and the tour was in Japanese as the majority of visitors was local people and the foreign visitor are given a head set. Oh ya and there was a little gift shop selling sweets and some rather dated merchandise, but the Japanese tourists were shopping like crazy in there ><
1st stop the former Privy Council Building
stone wall
the symbol on the rock are the family symbol of the people that built the wall
it's a big tour group, and no straying out of the group
next the Fujimi-yagura ( Mt. Fuji-view Keep) reconstructed in 1659, it's a 3 stories keep and one of the 3 remaining keeps of the inner citadel of Edo Castle, originally there were 11 of them.
the ancient and the modern
This is the Imperial Household Agency Building, a newer addition that was constricted in 1935. I was used as the temporary Imperial Palace for some years after WW II until the new Imperial Palace was built
moving along, the Kyoden Totei Plaza
Chowaden Hall. This is where the Emperor and Empress and Imperial Family greets the public during New year and Emperor's Birthday.... Konichiwa!!!!
a little sign of autumn
don't this look cool?
the highlight of the tour is to walk on the Seimon-tetsubashi Bridge(akaNijubashi) with the Fushima-yagura Keep in the background
yeah
view from the bridge
it is said that Fushimi-yagura Keep was moved here from Fushimi-castle in Kyoto during the reign of the 3rd Shogun Iemitsu in the early 17th century
waited really long for everyone to leave so i could take this shot
Love how the Japanese trip their bush, so neat while preserving the flower
walking back to the Visitor house via Yamashita-dori Street
a lot of Japanese bow at the gate entrance at the end of the tour, i guess it's a sign of respect and gratitude. Arigato gozaimasu from us!!!
some interesting looking bird in the moat area
And that's the end of 75minutes long tour. I got to say I'm a little disappointed that i don't get to see the Emperor and the Empress. :D It is rather interesting to finally get to see how the royalty of Japan live. Although we don't really get to see the inner part of the Palace but from what we saw it was simple, clean and modest design palace for royal standard. Something different from all the gold, yellow and heavy decorative we see from most palace and castle that we've visited
Arigato gozaimasu again for the Free tour!!! we enjoyed it!
~ Ja na ~
No comments:
Post a Comment