Snow Storm, Imperial Palace Wall

 

"The centre of the capital still proclaims its origins. There sits the Imperial Palace, ubiquitous, directly in the centre, built on the site of Edo Castle. This is what the visitor sees as old Japan; this is what the resident must go around on the way home. It is the hub of the city, its core. (...)
"Grey stone walls, which in Greece would be called cyclopean, a few turrets, one of which is said to contain elements of the original castle, groves of pine and a recent swan in the ancient moat - all of this in the midst of grey Tokyo creates a metaphor."
- Donald Richie