Many of the neighborhoods surrounding the Imperial Palace are full of institutions and universities. Ichigaya is no exception. It's home to Japan's Ministry of Defense and numerous universities.
Ministry of Defense
Ichigaya is best known as the location of the headquarters of the Japan Defense Agency and Ministry of Defense. All of Japan's top military brass work out of Ichigaya. It's a large complex not unlike the Pentagon in the United States.
The area is also home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's special riot squad. The location is no coincidence. Right wing extremists would like to use Japan's military to overthrow the country's elected government. The military base has been attacked several times.
The Man Who Would be Samurai
In 1970 a well known Japanese author named Yukio Mishima led an attempted coups d'état at the Ministry of Defense. It failed and Mishima and his team committed seppuku.
Yasukuni Shrine
Ichigaya is also close to Yasukuni Shrine — Japan's most controversial shrine. It's the site of regular demonstrations by Japan's nationalist right wing groups.
Visiting Ichigaya
Ichigaya is an old neighborhood that's a reasonably good spot for a walk or photo tour. Check out the old fishing attraction near the station. People fish in stocked pools on the remains of the outer moat of Edo Castle.
Ichigaya Map
Ichigaya is to the northwest of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo.
Ichigaya (the neighborhood) spans two of Tokyo's cities: Shinjuku and Chiyoda.
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