This is part five of the six entries about Edo Castle.
In this article, about Kitanomaru Park, the northernmost part of Edo Castle, will be described.

• Part 1: Outline of Edo Castle
• Part 2: Kokyo Gaien, Wadakura Funsui Koen
• Part 3: Kokyo Higashi Gyoen
• Part 4: the Imperial Palace & Inui Street
• Part 5: Kitanomaru Koen (this page)
• Part 6: Outer moats

Kitanomaru Park

Kitanomaru Park, or Kitanomaru Koen (北の丸公園), was where two very close relatives of Tokugawa Shogun family lived at the time the Edo period ended. These two were of the three families founded in the mid-Edo period to provide successor for the post of Shogun in case the Shogun family itself had no heir.
Though there are almost nothing left inside the park, the moats, stone walls and earth ramparts surrounding the park remain, together with two massive gates.

Nippon Budokan was originally constructed as the Judo competition hall for 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Its octagonal appearance is modeled after renowned Buddhist architecture Yumedono of Horyuji Temple in Nara. It is now also famous as a concert hall.

This western-style lantern belongs to Yasukuni Shrine across the road. It was constructed in 1871, and in those days it is said that it was able to be seen from the sea.

This building is the former headquarters of the Imperial Guard completed in 1910.

Other than these, there are the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the Science Museum, and the National Archives of Japan.

About hanami

The passage along the Chidorigafuchi Moat is, together with adjoining Yasukuni Shrine, one of the most notable hanami (viewing of cherry blossoms) spot in Tokyo. See the article on the Chiyoda no Sakura Matsuri for details.

Article on

Chiyoda no Sakura Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine & Chidorigafuchi Moat in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

The Chiyoda no Sakura Matsuri is held from late March to early at Yasukuni Shrine & Chidorigafuchi Moat.