Thursday, July 11, 2024

Numazu Imperial Villa

Recently, I took the train to Numazu Station and visited the Imperial Villa, which is the former summer home of the Imperial Family. The Imperial family stopped using the summer home in November 1969, and the City of Numazu developed the property into a memorial park, which opened in July 1970. 


The entry fee for both the house and the grounds is 410 yen. It is walking distance from Numazu Station or you can park a car for free.










This is the maid's meeting room.



Guard's room



Both rooms



The Prince's tricycle



Kitchen



Back Entrance.



This room was called Jojikankisho in the Taisho era. It was for the Chamberlain or Men-in-waiting.




Looking out the window




This room was called Togu Daibushistu, for the men waiting on the Crown Prince.  Later it was used for praying.  Every day the Emperor prayed to his ancestors.




During the Taisho Era, this was used as an office.  Later it was called Shuzenshitsu, a room for providing food or tableware.



Originally, this was used as the anteroom to the offical guest room.  Later it was used for dining.



This room was the Official Guest Room. The special Japanese paper called Maniaishi is applied at the top of the walls. The paper is hand made from a rare type of vegetable fiber called Ganpi mixed with powdered stone paste. It is strongly resistent to fire, fading, and vermin.




Together, the next three rooms are called Gozasho and are for living, sleeping, and dressing.







The Billiard room was added in 1925.



This is the Emperor's Bath, but has no bathtub.  A lady in waiting poured water over the emperor, who was wearing very thin clothing.



This is the original telephone from the Meiji Era.



Outside this house, there is still much to see.





The hot water room






There was a group of kindergarten children, all in matching shorts and hats outside.










Air Raid Shelter







Looking out over the water.



It's a beautiful place and I can kind of imagine being here for the summer. 

6 comments:

kiwikid said...

That is a beautiful place to visit, the big blue vase is amazing as is the patterned footpath.

kiwikid said...

That is a beautiful place to visit, love the big blue vase and the patterned footpath.

Queeniepatch said...

In the days before air conditioners became available it must have been nice to escape the heat of the capital and go to a cooler place. A popular place is Karuizawa, but I don't think there is an Imperial villa there. How cool is Numazu?
I think the present imperial family spend their holidays in Nasu, Tochigi prefecture, although I think that area is rather humid and clammy so I am sure they need AC.

Jeanie said...

This looks lovely inside and out and it seems like it would be a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Leonore Winterer said...

It looks like a beautiful place to spend the summer, but I think I would feel very strange taking a bath like that!

Toki said...

I am very grateful that you go to the places I want to go, take lots of photos, and introduce them to me.
The imperial family is never lavish. Although it is simple in construction, It is constructed using good materials.