Around Tokyo Station

If you had 10 guesses as to which nations capital is home to this train station...I bet Japan wouldn't be included. This is the front of the Marunouchi exit to Tokyo station which was designed in the style of Amsterdam station. Its a maze inside and has so many levels and signs and exits that getting lost is just a given thing. The original dome roof was damaged during air raids in 1945 and what you see in this pic is the replacement.



The grounds of the imperial palace are surrounded by this moat. Beyond the moat lie several public parks. Only the inner circle of the grounds have restricted access as it is home to the Japanese Emperor. The palace grounds used to be home to a castle that was built in the 1500's...thus.....moat and high stone walls.



The moat also acts as a border between modern city and history as this picture shows.



Nijubashi (double arched bridge) is the most famous landmark within the palace grounds. It was built in 1888 and was the main entrance of the palace.



Some cultural clashes between modern city and history are subtle......others are not. I don't know who designed this building or what the intention was, but it certainly makes for a different style! Only in Japan.



Lorraine (Harels Aunt), Lyn (H's mum), Barry 'The Silverback' (H's dad), Harel, Toru, Leigh, Tristan (H's brother), Krys, Me.

Also........2 nights ago we went out with Leigh and Harel and her family. The six of them are all crammed into a little 1 bedroom place. They sampled the nomihodai (all u can drink) and were impressed with the value. However, all of us, bar Toru, Leigh and Krys (partially) were unimpressed (to say the least) with the appetizers.....whole baby octopus!