On a lush green hill overlooking the beautiful surface of Lake Inawashiro stands a stunning white Western-style mansion that looks like 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 area's scenery 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 how would you spend your time 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! Enjoying the Royal Interior of the Meiji era
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 chandeliers in the Rococo style, shining from the ceiling.
The social venue of the time, the "Billiard Room"
What is particularly interesting is the "Billiard Room". This room was essential for the social gatherings of the upper class at the time, and the billiard table here is said to have been passed down from the great businessman Sankei Hara, who created the Sankei-en in Yokohama.
The lighting fixtures were also designed to ensure that no shadows of the balls would be cast 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 missed. It is the "Former Takamatsu Palace (now Fukushima Prefectural Guest House)" with 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 Yoshihito Takamatsu, concerned about the health of Princess Takako (the wife of Prince Takahito) who was celebrating her 60th birthday, thought that "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 combines the family love of the royal family and traditional Japanese craftsmanship. (Currently, it is open to the public for a limited time.)
[Historical Mystery] The Arisugawa family and Kazunomiya, a tragic love torn apart
Now, regarding the "Arisugawa family" that built this beautiful villa, they are also a family that bore the most dramatic and tragic fate in the history of the late Edo period.
Do you know the tragic princess "Kazunomiya" who married the 14th shogun, Iemochi Tokugawa? 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 chaos in the country caused by the arrival of the black ships (the union of the court and the shogunate), their engagement was forcibly broken by the shogunate, and Kazunomiya was married off to the shogunate 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 breaks out. Prince Arisugawa Yoshihito, who was once engaged to Kazunomiya, will attack Edo Castle, where Kazunomiya is located, as the "Commander of the New Government Army".
The two who once vowed to marry now face each other as the "commander of the attacking side" and "the woman of the defending side (Tokugawa family)". Despite Kazunomiya's desperate plea for mercy, Edo Castle is surrendered without bloodshed, but is there any other cruel twist of fate as heartbreaking as this?
Immerse yourself in the romance of history in a beautiful Western-style mansion.
How was it? The Arisugawa family came to an end in the Taisho era, closing the curtain on their noble history. However, the villa they loved in Inawashiro continues to stand by the lakeside in unchanged beauty.
At "Tabinoito", we offer a tour in the 【Academic】 style where you can enjoy the appreciation of such splendid architectural beauty along with the hidden human dramas and historical ironies, enriched by our guide's explanations.
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 this romantic space with you.
[Immerse yourself in the romance of history, an adult fieldwork experience]
A journey that comfortably explores the real breath of history, different from period dramas, in a dedicated vehicle.
Our exclusive guide will introduce you to the stories of Aizu that are not found in textbooks.
Feel free to consult us via LINE first.
