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Tokyo Imperial Palace – The Imperial Palace (Koyko)
is another big "all in one site" where kids can soak up a little Japanese
history, ride bicycles or stroll around the gardens, visit the Science Museum
or war memorial, smack in the middle of downtown Tokyo. In the Edo era,
this was the site the biggest castle around, with a double wall and moats
to foil intruders. Today, only the watchtowers from the Edo castle remain,
but the gardens and moats are wonderful. The grounds of the Imperial Palace,
home of the Japanese royal family, are open to the public on selected holidays
or tours by prior arrangement. |
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East Garden (Higashi Gyoen) – In the East Garden,
you can head for the Ninomaru garden, filled with willows, azaleas, irises,
cherry trees, ponds with big old carp. Or, run over to the Honmaru, the
area which was the castle keep. As you scramble on the old stone ramparts
that were once Edo Castle, you can imagine the story of the forty-seven
ronin (Chusingura). Here at Edo Castle, Lord Asano drew his sword against
another, and so began the saga of his loyal retainers to avenge his death. |
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Rent bikes – You can rent bikes near the Imperial
Plaza and ride on paths, close to the Imperial Palace, along the moats,
past the guard towers, and by the Wadakura Fountain Park. |
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Science Museum and Kitanomaru Park – North of
the East Garden is another park, Kitanomaru Park and the Science Museum.
The Science Museum has hands on exhibits and activities that the kids can
do without understanding Japanese. If your kids take karate or other martial arts, try to
visit a children's class at the Budokan Gakuen, martial arts school. |
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Yasukuni Shrine – Adjacent to the Kitanomaru Park
is the Yasukuni Shrine, honoring Japanese soldiers who died fighting. The
military museum has samurai armor, swords, modern weapons and tanks, and
a full-size kamikaze plane. |
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Row boats on the moats – Rent rowboats boats at
Chidorigafuchi Aquatic Park, near to the Yasukuni Shrine, and row leisurely
around the moats. |
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Brides in kimonos (Hotel New Otani) – The Hotel
New Otani has beautiful gardens, with fountains, ponds, stepping stones
over the water, trees and plants that turn colors with the seasons. |
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On Sundays, you can see brides, dressed in exquisite kimonos,
having their pictures taken. |
