Changes

Of the eighteen smaller ''yagura'' (watch towers) which once stood on the grounds, three survive today: the Sakurada two-story tower (''Sakurada nijû yagura''), the Fushimi ''yagura'', and the Fujimi ''yagura''. The latter, the only three-story tower on the grounds, served as a replacement for the five-story ''tenshu'' keep which was destroyed in 1657. From this tower, one could see (''mi'') [[Mt. Fuji]]; the shogun also enjoyed the view of [[Edo Bay]], and of the [[Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival]] at [[Ryogoku|Ryôgoku]], from this tower.

Of the eighteen smaller ''yagura'' (watch towers) which once stood on the grounds, three survive today: the Sakurada two-story tower (''Sakurada nijû yagura''), the Fushimi ''yagura'', and the Fujimi ''yagura''. The latter, the only three-story tower on the grounds, served as a replacement for the five-story ''tenshu'' keep which was destroyed in 1657. From this tower, one could see (''mi'') [[Mt. Fuji]]; the shogun also enjoyed the view of [[Edo Bay]], and of the [[Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival]] at [[Ryogoku|Ryôgoku]], from this tower.

===Gates===

===Gates & Guardhouses===

The Shimizumon 清水門, located in the northeastern corner of the Kitanomaru, is one of the castle's several ''masugata'' gates. It consists of an outer gate in the ''kôraimon'' style, dated to [[1658]], and designated an [[Important Cultural Property]], and an inner gate in the ''yagura-mon'' style, likely dating to 20th century repair efforts. The two are arranged at right angles to one another, forming a small square between them, with high stone walls, a defensive measure commonly seen at [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]] / Edo period castles.<ref name=shimizu/>

The Shimizumon 清水門, located in the northeastern corner of the Kitanomaru, is one of the castle's several ''masugata'' gates. It consists of an outer gate in the ''kôraimon'' style, dated to [[1658]], and designated an [[Important Cultural Property]], and an inner gate in the ''yagura-mon'' style, likely dating to 20th century repair efforts. The two are arranged at right angles to one another, forming a small square between them, with high stone walls, a defensive measure commonly seen at [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]] / Edo period castles.<ref name=shimizu/>

Of the many guardhouses (''bansho'') which once stood within the grounds, three survive. The ''hyakunin bansho'', ''dôshin bansho'', and ''Ôbansho'' which survive today all stand between the Naka-no-mon and Chûjakumon gates. The Ôbansho was guarded by the higher-ranking guards (''[[yoriki]]'' and ''[[doshin|dôshin]]''), and was the chief guardhouse before the Chûjakumon, which led directly into the ''honmaru''.<ref>Plaques on-site at guardhouse.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/17577043974/]</ref>

Of the many guardhouses (''bansho'') which once stood within the grounds, three survive. The ''hyakunin bansho'', ''dôshin bansho'', and ''Ôbansho'' which survive today all stand between the Naka-no-mon and Chûjakumon gates. The Ôbansho was guarded by the higher-ranking guards (''[[yoriki]]'' and ''[[doshin|dôshin]]''), and was the chief guardhouse before the Chûjakumon, which led directly into the ''honmaru''.<ref>Plaques on-site at guardhouse.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/17577043974/]</ref> The guards of the ''Hyakunin bansho'' and ''Dôshin bansho'', meanwhile, were charged with the security of the area around the ''gejôba'' (the spot where most entering the castle were obliged to dismount), including the walkways from the Ôtemon to the Naka-no-mon.<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Edo jidai - shogun bushi tachi no jitsuzô'', Tokyo shoseki (2008), 70.</ref>

===Honmaru===

===Honmaru===