Tokugawa Yoshimune is considered one of the greatest shoguns of Edo Bakufu. He initiated financial reforms that most likely made writing the rest of this series on Tokugawa shogun graves infinitely easier. Just as they re-used existing sites, I can re-use existing blogs. Awwwww yeah. Continue reading Yutoku-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Yoshimune
Today, let’s get out of central Tōkyō and explore a popular Edo Period hanami day trip spot. Continue reading What does Koganei mean?
#Hanami is right around the corner and Asukayama was one of #Edo’s most famous spots!
Shinjuku is one of the craziest places in Tokyo. Guess what. It’s ALWAYS been like that! Continue reading What does Shinjuku mean?
Today we’re looking at one of Tōkyō’s best kept secrets. It seems like Asakusa’s boring cousin, but the town is steeped in the history of Edo-Tōkyō. Continue reading What does Mukōjima mean?
Egota/Ekota is one of the most contentious place names in Tōkyō. No one agrees on where it comes from. Hell, people can’t even agree on how to pronounce it. Continue reading What does Egota mean?
徳川将軍家之墓Tokugawa Shōgun-ke no Haka (graves of the Tokugawa Shōgun family) In May of 2013, I decided to write a series on the quest that sparked my passion for Japanese history: my quest to visit the graves of each Tokugawa shōgun[i]. … Continue reading Graves of the Tokugawa Shōguns
Today’s place name isn’t the most exciting and the area isn’t much better, but we have magical bugs living inside people. That’s cool, right? Continue reading What does Gohongi mean?
I had a little free time so I added one more article to my series on bridges named after shrines and temples!
Continue reading What does Eitaibashi mean?
Today we’re talking about Kameari in Katsushika Ward. It’s an interesting place name that’’s easy to speculate about because of the kanji. Continue reading What does Kameari mean?
This may be the closest you get to experiencing a real daimyo garden in Edo. Continue reading What does Koishikawa mean?
Today, the area called Ohanajaya refers to three blocks in Katsushika Ward, but in the Edo Period, this was the countryside and was used for falconry by the Tokugawaw shōguns. Continue reading What does Ohanajaya mean?
We’re at the twilight of Tokugawa power in Japan – the 14th shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi. Continue reading Shomyo-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Iemochi
Today we’ll look at the grave of the 9th shogun, Tokugawa Ieshige — which is basically the grave of the 7th shogun, Ietsugu. Continue reading Junshin-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ieshige
We’ve come to the 7th shogun. His funerary temple was one of the architectural gems of Edo-Tokyo. Sadly, it was the last of these fine structures. From here on out we will only have group enshrinements. It’s the end of an era. Continue reading Yusho-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Ietsugu
Last time, I wrote about the 4th shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna. Today let’s look at the grave of his younger brother, the much more famous Tokugawa Tsunayoshi – the so-called Dog Shogun. If you’ve been to Ueno Park, you may have seen the gate to his tomb. It’s much better preserved that Ietsuna’s and a little more centrally located… kinda. Continue reading Joken-in・the Grave of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Today I’m starting a 16 part series describing the graves of all 15 Tokugawa shoguns. If you’re planning to travel to Japan, and Tokyo in particular, you might want to consider visiting these spots. Unfortunately, there isn’t much left to see in Tokyo, but what is remaining is intriguing! Continue reading Tokugawa Funerary Temples
