Edo Castle

Edo Castle was the largest castle in Japan and for more than 250 years the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled the country from here. Begun in 1457 by Ota Dokan, the site was massively expanded from 1590 by Tokugawa Ieyasu into a fortress with concentric moats, monumental stone walls and a 58-metre main keep, never rebuilt after the Meireki Fire of 1657. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868 the emperor moved in and the compound became the Imperial Palace (Kokyo). The site lies in central Chiyoda and is largely accessible to the public. The Higashi Gyoen (East Garden) preserves watchtowers, Honmaru foundations and extensive plantings. The inner residential precinct remains reserved for the Emperor.