Daimon

 

Daimon Station is situated in Chiyoda Ward of Tokyo on the Toei Asakusa and Toei Oedo Subway Lines. It takes its name from Shiba Daimon (or the Great Gate of Shiba), which is located just west of the station on the road leading to Zojo-ji Temple.

 

The area surrounding the station has several major historical and tourist attractions. Major among these is the Shiba Daimyojin Shrine, also called Shiba-Daijingu Shrine, which is just 1 minute's walk from Daimon Station on the Asakusa Line.

 

Shiba Daimyojin Shrine

 

Shiba Daimyojin Shrine, or Shiba-Daijingu Shrine as it is also called, is one of the ten most important shrines of Tokyo chosen by Emperor Meiji to be the guardian shrines of the city. It is also one of the most ancient shrines in Tokyo and is said to be dedicated to a branch deity of the Ise Shrine of the mid-Heian period.

The shrine building stands in the middle of a small piece of land. It is built in the Shinmei style and has a roof of chigi (forked finials) . Though small, the shrine grounds have been used very efficiently. Its important features are the Do-Toro (copper lantern), Chikara Ishi (strength-testing stone), and the Megumi-no-Hansho (the fire bell). An extremely popular shrine during the Edo period, Shiba Daijingu enshrines Yoritomo Minamoto and Ieyasu.

 

A popular event at the shrine is the Dara-dara Matsuri, or the Ginger Root Festival , held every September since the Edo period. Literally meaning “a prolonged festival”, Dara-dara Matsuri lasts for 11 days - from September 11 to 21. Also called Shoga Matsuri , or the Ginger Root Festival, ginger root is offered at the altar of the shrine during the festival. Other features of the Festival include open-air stalls selling ginger root besides other traditional knick-knacks and food items. A parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) is taken out with over 400 participants dressed in ancient court costume carrying them.

 

Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden

 

Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden, literally meaning "Shiba Detached Palace Garden", is one of Tokyo's few surviving clan gardens from the Edo Period. Built in 1678, it was originally the residence of Tadatomo Okubo, an official of the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. After changing hands several times, in 1871 it became the residence of the Arisugawa-no-miya family. Then in 1875, the Imperial Household Agency bought it from the Arisugawa-no-miya family and it became a detached Imperial palace. During the fires of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the place was completely destroyed. The Imperial Household Agency then handed it over to the city of Tokyo, who restored the garden to its previous glory and opened it to the public in April 1924.

 

In the middle of Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden is a large pond, called Sensui , which is said to have been inspired by Lake Xi Hu in Zheijiang, China. In the middle of the pond are two small islands. The larger of the two, Nakajima , can be reached by a bridge, while the smaller one, Ukishima , is isolated. Near the pond is a small hill called Oyama Hill , with a chain of mounds on either side of it. In between Oyama Hill and Sensui Pond is Karetaki , a “waterless waterfall”. Rocks of various forms and sizes are spread throughout the garden. This beautiful contrast between the greenery and rocks is typical of the landscape architecture of the Edo period. The best part is that the flora of Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden is so varied, that it has something to offer throughout the year – the cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, the irises in summer, and the apricots and narcissi in winter.

 

Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden has been designated National Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historical Site by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Located just 2 minutes on foot from Daimon Station, the Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day and has an entrance fee.