It has been some time since I last posted on this site, but as often happens in life we encounter circumstances that detract us from doing what we like in order to focus on doing what we must.

When I started this series on Japan my motivation was to share photos and insights about places I had visited and that motivation remains. Along the way I set an informal target of 100 posts, with this being the 92^nd and I would like to finish off 2018 by reaching my target. However, I must apologise in advance as time constraints will limit both the photos presented and the commentary. Nevertheless, I hope readers will be able to extract some pleasure and/or useful information from these final posts.

The opening photo (pic 1) of the Seimon Ishibashi Bridge with the Imperial Palace atop a slight hill in the background is immediately suggestive of Tokyo. The palace is built on the site of the original Edo Castle, which no longer remains and is an impressive sight that conjures visions of the old Japan. Whilst this image is the stock-standard shot, it is irresistible and one can appreciate why the bridge is nicknamed Spectacles Bridge.

I spent only a short time at the palace on the advice of Tokyo residents who had advised that there was no access to the palace buildings, though one is free to roam the gardens (pics 6 to 8), which were magnificent in their Autumnal splendour. One may notice city buildings in the background of some shots, which shows the proximity of the Palace to downtown Tokyo and reminds us yet again of how strategically castle sites were chosen in ages past. The final shot (pic 9) emphasises its strategic placement, with the palace gateway symbolising a passage between the old and the new.

Other buildings that I found interesting were an old Bansho (pics 2 & 3), which I understand is one of three original guardhouses remaining within the grounds; the Tokagakudo Music Hall (pic 4) built in 1966 in the shape of an octagon and with its outer walls depicting murals made from ceramic and pottery shards; and finally an unidentified building (pic 5) that simply appealed to me. My guess is that the building is some form of vault or archive and if anyone knows more about this building I would be most grateful.

(Please click on any of the following images for an enlarged view.)