The  temples  of  Yeddo  tower  above  all  the  other  build-
ings of  the  city.  The  houses  and  shops  (and  every  house
seems  to  be  a  shop)  are  all  of  a  single  story  or  a  story  and
a  half,  built  low,  so  that  they  may  not  have  far  to  fall  in
case  of  an  earthquake,  one  of  the  every-day  occurrences.
The  temple  that  we  iirst  visited  was  a  structure  about  fifty
feet  in  height,  of  which  the  four-sided  high  roof  formed  a
chief  part.  The  architecture  was  Oi-iental  and  really  im-
posing, and  the  interior  far  more  magnificent  and  in  every
respect  in  better  taste  than  I  expected  to  find  it  fi-oni  the
weather-beaten  appearance  of  the  exterior.  The  people  of
the  place  are  not  allowed  to  enter  without  taking  off  their
sandals,  and  an  exception  was  made  of  our  party  only  in
the  case  of  the  ladies ;  but  this  custom  seems  to  arise  from
a  regard  to  cleanliness,  and  not  fi'oin  reverence.  No  Japan-
ese ever  enters  a  house  or  shop  without  taking  off  his  shoes
and  leaving  them  at  the  threshold.
