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Though situated in the heart of Tokyo, the Kantei
is blessed with abundant nature. The grounds are on elevated land, on which about
1,100 trees were planted at the time of construction. In 1964, the year of the
Tokyo Olympics, many of the trees were removed or replanted when a portion of
the plot was shaved off to make room for construction of the Shuto Expressway.
Later, as high-rise buildings were constructed in the surrounding area, Himalayan
cedars, evergreen broad-leaved trees and other trees that provide cover from the
outside were added. In total, there were about 450 trees on the Kantei
premises.
This "Kantei forest," which also includes Japanese apricot and
cherry trees, as well as azaleas, hydrangeas, maples and camellias, features the
natural beauty of all four seasons.
There were also many garden stones in the South Garden. Among them were stones
that were used in the former Nabeshima Mansion as well as stones that were dug
out of the stone wall of Edo Castle from the site of the former Interior Ministry.
It is interesting to note that the stone materials used for the stone wall of
Edo Castle were originally donated by each of the feudal domains, and geometrical
markings that are thought to be the crests of each domain can still be seen on
many of these stones today. |
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