Tokyo Station Lies Inside an Ancient Castle

You might be walking through a historic fortress without even realizing it. The sprawling grounds of the original Edo Castle were once so immense that modern landmarks like Tokyo Station sit entirely within its outermost moat.

Built in 1457, Edo Castle served as the nerve center for Japan’s military government for over two centuries. As the city expanded, the castle’s vast defensive perimeter was gradually absorbed into the urban landscape. Today, areas like the Marunouchi business district and the Nippon Budokan occupy space that was once protected by the shogun's walls. It is a rare example of a medieval stronghold that vanished into the heart of a modern metropolis.