I went to the Japanese origin of longitude and latitude, which is used as a standard when making maps.
Nitenmon Gate of the Yushouin Mausoleum
First, from Hamamatsucho Station, I headed toward Tokyo Tower.
At the northeast corner of Zojoji Temple was the Nitenmon Gate of the Yushouin Mausoleum. It survived the Tokyo Air Raid and is designated as an important cultural asset.
On the right is Tamonten (many listen deva) or Bishamonten, the guardian of the north, and on the left is Koumokuten (wide eyes deva), the guardian of the west. Although the temple is located in the northeast corner of Zojoji Temple, it does not protect the north and east. There must be some deeper reason for this.
After the ears and eyes, you would think that the names of the guardians of the remaining directions would be related to the mouth and nose, such as Benkouten (good talking deva) and Houkouten (good smelling deva).
However, the correct answers are Jikoku-ten, the guardian of the east, and Zoucho-ten, the guardian of the south. I’m sure that when they transliterated the Sanskrit words, they couldn’t choose the words that were related to each other. Incidentally, it is said that these four heavens are called the Four Devas.
The Japanese origin of longitude and latitude
Take the road north of Tokyo Tower to the west, cross the Iikura intersection, walk 80 meters south, and take the narrow road on the right to the west. There was a security guard standing there, so I wondered if I could go this way. After 130 meters, you will come to an end and turn left.
I found the Japanese origin of longitude and latitude in a place where weeds were growing thickly.
I thought the original point was a first-class triangulation point, since it was used as a reference point for latitude and longitude. However, when I got home, I found out that there is another first-class triangulation point, Tokyo (Taisho), about 80 meters to the southeast.
There was no one around today, so I could observe the origin of the latitude and longitude to my heart’s content.
The metal marker is embedded in the granite. The font seems to be round gothic for easy reading.
The large sign next to the left, “the Japanese origin of longitude and latitude,” is written in clerical script. Does this look better for large letters?
I read a nearby sign. It said that it moved 27 centimeters to the east due to the Tohoku earthquake. This 27 centimeters must be based on the Greenwich Observatory (IERS reference meridian).
The fact that this is the Japanese origin of longitude and latitude is specified in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Survey Act. In the same paragraph, it is stated that “azimuth angle of origin 32 degrees 20 minutes 46 seconds 209 (azimuth angle of the intersection of the crosses of the metal markers of the Tsukuba ultra-long baseline radio interferometer observation point at 1 Kitago, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, measured clockwise from true north at the point mentioned in the previous item)”, which determines the direction of true north. For more information on the Tsukuba ultra-long baseline radio interferometer, I visited it the other day, and you can read about it here.
Head towards Roppongi on Tokyo Route 319 with Mami-ana-zaka on your left.
There are many embassies and foreign ministry buildings.
I see that you can visit the exhibition room in the Annex of the Diplomatic Archives. But today is Sunday, so the museum is closed. Too bad.
Old Nogi Residence
Crossing the Roppongi intersection and continuing northwest, I found the old Nogi residence.
It’s a heavy display, and it suits the General.
There is a slope in the mansion, and it is easy to see how the elegant people of the past made use of the natural terrain to create their gardens.
Speaking of slopes, Saka no Ue no Kumo (Clouds on the Hill) (I’ve only read the book), General Nogi Maresuke was described as incompetent, but I wonder what kind of person he really was.
By the way, does “Saka” in Saka no Ue no Kumo mean Nogisaka?
The current National Stadium
As I entered the Jingu Gaien Garden and passed by the National Stadium…
The National Stadium of my youth!
(I’ve only been here three times to watch rugby.)
When will the new national stadium be ready? I am looking forward to it.
Walking data
Course : Hamamatsucho Station, JR Tokaido Line -> the Japanese origin of longitude and latitude -> Old Nogi Residence -> Shinjuku Station, Yamanote Line
Distance: 9.9km
Time : 2h17m
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