On a lush hill overlooking the beautiful surface of Lake Inawashiro, there stands a stunning white Western-style mansion that looks as if it has stepped out of a movie set.
The "Tenkyokaku" (天鏡閣), designated as an important cultural property of the country. In 1908, Prince Takahito Arisugawa was captivated by the beauty of this place and built this luxurious villa. Later, Prince Yoshihito, who would become Emperor Taisho, stayed here, and it was named "Tenkyokaku" after a poem by Li Bai.
If you were a member of the royal family or nobility during the Meiji era, what kind of dress would you wear, and what kind of time would you spend in this luxurious Western-style mansion? This time, we will guide you through the pinnacle of Meiji architectural beauty and the "heart-wrenching historical drama" associated with the Arisugawa family.
Luxurious and splendid! Enjoy the royal interior of the Meiji era
Upon entering the two-story wooden building based on Renaissance style, you are completely in the "Royal World of Meiji".
Each room is equipped with 26 beautiful fireplaces made of majolica tiles imported from England, and charming angel decorations adorn the Rococo-style chandeliers that shine from the ceiling.
The social gathering place of the time: "Billiard Room"
What is particularly interesting is the "Billiard Room." It is an essential room for the social gatherings of the upper class at the time, and the billiard table here is said to have been handed down from the great businessman Sankei Hara, who created the Sankei-en in Yokohama.
The lighting fixtures are also designed to prevent shadows from the balls during the game, allowing us to imagine the nobles enjoying games here elegantly and seriously.
The "Fukushima Prefectural Guest House" born from love and compassion for the royal family
Within the grounds of Tenkyokaku, there is another important building that cannot be overlooked. The "Former Takamatsu Prince's Villa (now Fukushima Prefectural Guest House)" has a purely Japanese appearance.
Why did they go to the trouble of building a Japanese-style villa when there was already the Western-style Tenkyokaku?
In fact, in 1922, Prince Nobuhito Takamatsu, concerned about the health of Princess Yoshiko, who was celebrating her 60th birthday, thought, "A Japanese-style building with tatami mats would allow for a more peaceful recovery," and took over a year to present this exquisite Japanese architecture.
It is a warm yet dignified space that embodies the family love of the royal family and the traditional craftsmanship of Japan. (Currently, it is open for special visits for a limited time.)
[Historical Mystery] The tragic love story of Arisugawa and Kazunomiya, torn apart
Now, the "Arisugawa family" that built this beautiful villa is also a family that bears the most dramatic and sad fate in the history of the late Edo period.
Do you know the tragic princess "Kazunomiya," who married the 14th shogun of the Tokugawa, Iemochi? In fact, Kazunomiya was originally engaged to Prince Taruhito Arisugawa since she was six years old.
They were deeply in love, but to quell the national turmoil caused by the arrival of the black ships (the union of court and shogunate), the engagement was forcibly broken by the shogunate, and Kazunomiya was married off to the shogun's family in Edo, swallowing her tears.
The two reunited as enemies and allies
The irony of history continues. A few years later, the Boshin War broke out. Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, who was once engaged to Waka, would lead the new government army to attack Edo Castle, where Waka was located.
The two who once vowed to marry would now face each other as the "general of the attacking side" and "the woman of the defending side (Tokugawa family)". Despite Waka's desperate pleas for mercy, Edo Castle was ultimately surrendered without bloodshed, but can there be a more heartbreaking and cruel twist of fate than this?
Immerse yourself in the romance of history in a beautiful Western-style mansion.
How was it? The Arisugawa family ceased to have successors during the Taisho era, bringing an end to their noble history. However, the villa they loved in Inawashiro still stands by the lakeside, unchanged in its beauty.
At "Tabinoito," we offer a tour in the 【Academic】 style that allows you to enjoy the appreciation of such splendid architectural beauty, along with the hidden human dramas and historical ironies, enriched by our guide's commentary.
While gazing up at the dazzling chandelier, why not reflect on the "love and fate" of the people who rushed from the late Edo period to the Meiji era? We look forward to walking through this romantic space with all of you.
[Immerse yourself in the romance of history, an adult fieldwork experience]
A journey to comfortably explore the real breath of history, different from period dramas, in a dedicated vehicle.
Our dedicated guide will introduce you to the stories of Aizu that are not found in textbooks.
Feel free to consult us via LINE first.
