Edo — The Broken Sakoku Scroll

Your quest for the Broken Sakoku Scroll begins in Tokyo, facing the bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige, erected in 1900 in Kokyo Gaien. This loyalist samurai (1294-1336) is honored as a symbol of bushido for his sacrifice at the Battle of Minatogawa in 1336, where he died for Emperor Go-Daigo. Although the statue was destroyed by an attack in 1932 and rebuilt the same year, it testifies to Japan's resilience and the importance of loyalty in the country's history. It is here, in the shadow of this 7-meter-high monument, that the first clues of your mission materialize.

Continue towards Sakuradamon Gate, an outer gate of the Imperial Palace built in 1868. Named for its cherry trees, it was the scene of the assassination of Shogun Tokugawa Nariaki in 1860 and an attempt on Emperor Komei the same year. This 12-meter-high structure, with its black-tiled tenshu-style roof, is a key witness to the end of the Edo period and the transition to the Meiji era. The Nijubashi Bridge, a two-arched stone bridge rebuilt in 1888-1889, awaits you next. A symbol of modern Japan's post-Sakoku opening, it provides primary access to the palace and is guarded 24/7, closed to pedestrians except for official events. Your clues lead you to these historically rich locations in the Kanto region.

The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Kōkyo Higashi Gyoen) span 210,000 m², open to the public since 1968. They house the remains of Edo Castle, destroyed by fire in 1873, originally built in 1457 by Oda Nobunaga and later Tokugawa Ieyasu. Here you discover the ruins of the main tower (Otemon) and the moats and walls dating from 1601-1606. The Honmaru Museum, opened in 1999, exhibits artifacts from the Edo period, offering direct immersion into this crucial period of Tokyo's history. It is in this setting that you decipher secrets related to the Sakoku policy and its consequences on Japanese trade.

Your journey takes you to Nihonbashi Bridge, a historic stone bridge rebuilt in 1911. At 49.9 meters long, it has marked kilometer zero of Japanese roads since 1603. In the 17th century, it was the commercial center of Edo and the starting point of the five Tokugawa shogunate routes. Although hidden under the Tokyo Expressway No. 1 since 1963, it remains a vital link to the Sakoku policy and controlled trade. Finally, Hie Shrine, founded in 1659 and moved in 1923 after the Great Kanto Earthquake, reveals its 580 red torii forming a tunnel. Dedicated to Ōyamakui no kami, protector against disasters, this Shinto shrine, rebuilt in gokakuden style in 1925, testifies to Tokyo's spirituality through the ages.

By completing your exploration of Tokyo's historical sites, from the Kusunoki Masashige Statue to Hie Shrine, you will have assembled the fragments of the Broken Sakoku Scroll. This thematic circuit in Kanto, marked by the Tokyo Imperial Palace and the remnants of the Edo period, will have revealed the complexities of the Meiji Restoration and the deep roots of Japanese heritage. Each monument, each precise date, each proper name encountered will have brought you closer to understanding a constantly evolving nation. You take with you a new perspective on the history of Tokyo, far beyond classic guides, thanks to this interactive visit of Kanto's monuments.