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[Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture] “Tenkyokaku” is a Western-style building loved by the imperial family! Let's wear a Meiji dress and become a lady!
[Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture] “Tenkyokaku” is a Western-style building loved by the imperial family! Let's wear a Meiji dress and become a lady!
Tenkyokakuthe villa of Prince Arisugawa Takehito , located in Inawashiro Town . It is located right on the western edge of Lake Inawashiro. Its interior is decorated in Renaissance style, and is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated Western-style buildings in Japan.
It is a designated important cultural property of the country, and has been visited not only by Prince Arisugawa but also by Emperor Showa and Emperor Taisho. It was originally planned as a guest house for Emperor Taisho when he visited
This time, we will be giving a thorough introduction to Tenkyokaku, a Western-style building in Inawashiro that was beloved by the Imperial family
The origins of Tenkyokaku
In fact, when Emperor Taisho visited the temple, he named it "Tenkyokaku" (Tenkyokaku) after comparing the crystal clear waters of Lake Inawashiro below to a mirror
Tenkyokaku was built by Prince Takehito in 1908 (Meiji 41). However, at the time there was no electricity in the area, so electric wires were specially laid out for this Western-style building
The reason for this is Lake Inawashiro, which later became the origin of the name. Prince Arisugawa was so captivated by the scenery that he insisted on building a Western-style building here, even if it meant bringing in electricity from afar
The building is basically two stories tall, with a penthouse on the third floor. This is the observation deck. Each of the octagonal walls has a window, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent view of Inawashiro
Another famous lodging facility for imperial visits is Jinpukaku in Tottori City, which was built the year before Tenkyokaku and has many similarities
They are similar in that they are two-story wooden buildings with brightly painted white exteriors, a wonderful blend of North American and Renaissance styles
Differences from ordinary Western-style buildings
The difference is the penthouse attached to the third floor. Tenkyokaku is unique in that it is designed to allow visitors to enjoy the view
In addition to the observation room, there was a protruding balcony on the south side, and the private room with this stylish colonnaded balcony belonged to the prince
This is done so that you can enjoy the spectacular view at any time
Ordinary Western-style buildings, like Jinpukaku, are symmetrical and flat in design, but Tenkyokaku deviates from this rule because it prioritizes the view, and is extremely three-dimensional, with overhangs, depth, and multiple bay windows
Enjoy tea in style at the guest dining room
If you come to Tenkyokaku, you should definitely enjoy tea time in the guest dining room
A royalty set is available for 600 yen, and only when you order this will the rope be removed and you will be able to enter the dining room
The place is filled with gorgeous furniture, including luxurious long tables and chairs
This gorgeous setting allows you to savor high-quality tea while reminiscing about the atmosphere in which members of the Imperial family once dined. The set includes seasonal sweets such as roll cakes, pound cakes, and baked chocolates
*The tea service is only available for a limited time from April 21st (Sat) to November 25th (Sun) in 2018, from 10am to 3:30pm every day.
Enjoy being an aristocrat
For small groups, we recommend the face-to-face seating by the window rather than the long tables. Enjoy Royal Darjeeling while surrounded by gentle light
You'll feel like you're a member of the royal family when you spend time here. Tamori also visited here during the filming of the TV show Bura Tamori in Omote Bandai. He is said to have enjoyed the tea and the croquette rice, which I'll introduce later
Trying on dresses is popular among women
We recommend the dress fitting experience for women. For just 500 yen, you can try on a dress from the Meiji period or a colorful dress made from local Aizu cotton
Even if you've never worn a proper dress and are worried about whether you'll be able to wear it properly, you can rest assured that professional staff will carefully help you put it on
After you've finished changing in the costume room, you can have your photo taken in the main hall, and then you can freely explore the museum in your dress
Feeling the luxurious dress against your skin and walking around the villa with the hem trailing behind you makes you feel like a princess. It's an experience every woman dreams of
*Dress fitting experience is limited to a certain period. In 2018, it will be available from April 21st (Sat) to November 25th (Sun). It is open every day from 10am to 4pm.
Since Inawashiro is a cold region, each room and hallway is equipped with a fireplace. The decorative mirror above the fireplace is large and eye-catching
The sink, bathtub, ceiling tassels, and more are all stylish and intricately crafted. They're also cute, giving the impression of being larger versions of the accessories found in Licca-chan doll's room
There are a variety of tasteful rooms to enjoy, including a billiards room with a rare four-pronged light hanging from the ceiling, and guest rooms that are mainly in the Meiji style, a Japanese take on the glamorous French Rococo style
What's popular in the shop?
Tenkyokaku has a shop. The recommended item there is the "Umakute Shoga Nee" (630 yen). It uses domestic ginger and perilla seeds from Fukushima Prefecture
It goes perfectly with rice, and with just a little on top, you can eat as many bowls of rice as you want. The ginger will warm your body, and it's said to be good for when you have a cold
Other popular items include Tenkyokaku Keree Rice (curry rice), croquette, and Keree Pan, which contain minced meat, a rare ingredient at the time
You can eat food purchased from the shop, such as kerere rice, in the garden outside
Summary of Tenkyokaku
This time we have introduced Tenkyokaku, a Western-style building with a long history and patronage to the Imperial Household. Its meticulous and careful construction has earned it a nationally designated Important Cultural Property
Both the exterior and interior use unique designs, techniques, and accessories, making it a sight to behold
Just being able to enter the building is fun, but you can also eat cake in the same place where high-ranking guests actually dined. What's more, women can wear dresses and wander around the building at their leisure. This is truly a rare experience that can only be had here
A web writer who loves sightseeing. He is dedicated to exploring local gourmet food. Recently, I've been researching famous Japanese sweets shops such as manju and dango. Going around the basements of department stores is my daily routine.
