This suspension bridge over Edo Bay has supports on the little island that appears to be a fort. That is because it is. This island is one of several constructed by the Shogun shortly after American Admiral Perry forcibly opened Japan from its approximately 350 year of self-imposed isolation in 1853 by firing cannon from his fleet of "black ships" into Tokyo from Edo Bay. The Japanese agreed to the opening of the country but built these little fort islands and stocked them with their own cannon to prevent their vulnerable situation from continuing. Within 15 years, the Shogun had completely lost power, and the Emperor obtained it, starting very cultured, and very backward Japan on a fast path to modernization during the Meiji Restoration. (click on the picture for a bigger view)
The above bridge runs along and above the old Imperial outer moat.
This lovely garden isn't on a bridge.
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