Map of the Gardens (from Tokyp Travel site)

 In the heart of the Tokyo metropolis, to the West of Tokyo Central Station and North of the Japanese Diet, is an oasis of green surrounded by a moat, where the Emperor lives in the Imperial Palace. The green space immediately surrounding the palace is closed to the public, but the East Gardens are well worth a visit to get a break from the frenetic pace of the city.

The gardens form part of what was an Edo Castle complex, the seat of the Tokogawa Shoganate, which ruled between 1603 until 1867. In 1867, the Shogan era of government finally gave way to a hybrid of Imperial and Parliamentary rule. In 1868, Emperor Meiji moved into the castle and resided there until 1888, when he moved into the newly constucted Imperial Palace in the western part of the grounds. 

I have not been able to find out what happened to the buildings of the castle after Emperor Meiji moved into the Imperial Palace as none exist today, but from observation, it seems that most structures were traditionally built of wood, rather than brick or stone, and it seems that there was no concept of bulding for permanence or posterity. Visiting various castles and temples around Japan, it is often the case that several editions of same building have been built in the same site over the centuries, some prematurely burning down, others have presumably rotted and been replaced.

Today, the most interesting structures are the buildings on the walls overlooking moats and walls made of huge irregularly cut stone. The gardens are more of a park, but there is one pretty area of landscaping, known as the Ninomaru Gardens.

(Click on pictures to enlarge and see full aspect)