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The Tayasumon 田安門, located on the northern side of the Kitanomaru, dates back to [[1635]] and is the oldest structure surviving on the castle grounds. A ''masugata'' gate, it consists of an outer ''kôraimon'' gate and an inner ''yagura-mon'' gate, situated at right angles to one another, and surrounded by tall stone walls. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1961.<ref>Plaque on-site at the Tayasu-mon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15251816999/sizes/h/]</ref>
The Tayasumon 田安門, located on the northern side of the Kitanomaru, dates back to [[1635]] and is the oldest structure surviving on the castle grounds. A ''masugata'' gate, it consists of an outer ''kôraimon'' gate and an inner ''yagura-mon'' gate, situated at right angles to one another, and surrounded by tall stone walls. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1961.<ref>Plaque on-site at the Tayasu-mon.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15251816999/sizes/h/]</ref>
On the northwest corner is the Inuimon 乾門, literally named for that corner on the wheel of the zodiac directions. This gate is today one of the main entrances for VIPs driving onto the palace grounds, and is heavily guarded.
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>
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>
