Former Asakura Family Residence

A Taisho-Era Treasure Hidden in Trendy Daikanyama

Just minutes from the fashionable boutiques and stylish cafés of Daikanyama, one of Tokyo's most upscale neighborhoods, lies a remarkable piece of living history. The Former Asakura House (旧朝倉家住宅, Kyū Asakura-ke Jūtaku) is a splendid two-story wooden mansion built in 1919 during the Taisho era (1912–1926). Designated as a national Important Cultural Property, this residence offers visitors a rare glimpse into the refined lifestyle of early 20th-century Japanese elites, complete with exquisite tatami rooms, masterful woodwork, and a breathtaking hillside strolling garden.

Tucked away on a quiet side street just off the bustling Kyu-Yamate-dori Avenue, the Former Asakura House stands as one of the very few pre-Great Kanto Earthquake wooden residences surviving in central Tokyo. It is a place where the elegant aesthetics of Taisho Romanticism come alive, providing a tranquil escape from the energy of modern-day Shibuya.

Historical Background: The Asakura Family Legacy

The Asakura family settled in the Shibuya area during the mid-Edo period, around the Kyōhō to Genbun eras (1716–1741), and became prominent landowners. From the Meiji era onward, the family prospered through rice milling, grain trading, and real estate management, establishing themselves as one of the most influential families in the district.

The house was built by Torajiro Asakura (1871–1944), who was born in Aichi Prefecture and came to Tokyo as a young man. He initially found success as a timber merchant in Kiba before being adopted into the Asakura family by marrying the daughter of Tokujiro Asakura, a respected rice merchant and politician. Torajiro went on to serve as both Chairman of the Tokyo Prefectural Assembly and Chairman of the Shibuya Ward Assembly, making him one of the most powerful local figures of his time.

In 1919, at the height of his influence, Torajiro constructed this grand residence on the family estate in Sarugakucho, perched on the southwestern slope of a plateau overlooking the Meguro River valley. The house miraculously survived both the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923—reportedly without losing a single roof tile—and the air raids of World War II, making it an extraordinarily rare survivor among Tokyo's pre-earthquake wooden structures.

After the war, the property changed hands and served as an official residence and meeting hall for government agencies, including the Economic Planning Agency. In 2002, a cabinet decision to sell the property prompted a major preservation campaign led by the Asakura family and the renowned architect Fumihiko Maki, designer of the adjacent Hillside Terrace complex. Their efforts bore fruit in 2004, when the main house and storehouse were designated as Important Cultural Properties. Since then, the property has been owned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and managed by Shibuya Ward for public viewing.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The Former Asakura House received its Important Cultural Property designation in 2004 (with additional site designations in 2005) for several compelling reasons. As one of the few large-scale Taisho-era Japanese-style residences remaining in central Tokyo from before the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, its survival alone makes it historically significant.

The designation recognizes the residence as an outstanding example of how high-quality traditional Japanese architecture adapted to the rapidly urbanizing landscape of early 20th-century Tokyo. The house skillfully integrates different architectural styles and purposes—formal reception rooms, private family quarters, a tea ceremony room, and a storehouse—each finished with distinct design treatments appropriate to their function. This functional variety within a single residential compound provides invaluable insight into the development of modern Japanese-style housing.

Furthermore, the designation encompasses not only the buildings but also the grounds, including the strolling garden with its stone lanterns and rock arrangements. The seamless integration of architecture and landscape is considered essential to the property's cultural value, representing a complete and remarkably well-preserved example of Taisho-era residential culture.

Architectural Highlights of the Main House

The main house is a wooden, partially two-story structure with a total building area of approximately 574 square meters. The roof is finished with traditional san-gawara (interlocking clay tiles), and the exterior walls feature shitami-ita-bari (lap siding) with sections of white plaster, presenting an appearance typical of grand residences from the Meiji through early Showa periods.

Nearly every room in the house is floored with tatami mats, and visitors remove their shoes to enter (socks are required). The interior layout reflects a sophisticated understanding of spatial hierarchy. The formal reception room near the entrance is designed in the traditional shoin-zukuri style, with elegant Japanese cypress beams (nageshi) encircling the room, and refined Japanese paintings adorning the sliding doors (fusuma) and decorative transoms (ranma).

The only Western-style room in the house is a parlor near the entrance, which features an ornate coffered ceiling (oriagé gōtenjō), beautifully carved wooden brackets originally designed to hold a chandelier, and impressive single-plank sliding doors. This room served for daily business meetings and guest reception, reflecting the practical blending of Western and Japanese elements common during the Taisho era.

One of the most celebrated spaces is the Suginoma (Cedar Room), located deeper within the residence. This room showcases sukiya-style design with exquisite use of cedar wood, including massive single planks of Yakushima cedar. The wood surfaces are often finished using the uzukuri technique, which polishes the grain into relief for a striking tactile and visual effect. The second-floor rooms offer additional charm with their refined wooden railings and panoramic views of the garden below.

The Strolling Garden: A Hillside Oasis

The garden at the Former Asakura House is a strolling-style (kaiyūshiki) garden that ingeniously incorporates the natural topography of the cliff line (gaisen) where the Shibuya Plateau drops away toward the Meguro River valley. The garden is divided into three distinct areas: the front garden before the entrance, a small courtyard garden (tsuboniwa) within the residence, and the main garden spreading across the steep southern slope.

Walking through the main garden, visitors follow moss-covered stepping stones through a landscape dotted with an impressive collection of stone lanterns (ishidōrō) and decorative rock arrangements gathered from various regions of Japan. The garden's planting centers on Japanese maples and mixed deciduous woodland, creating a sensation of walking through a natural forest rather than a formal garden. In spring, vibrant azaleas add splashes of color, while autumn transforms the garden into a spectacular display of crimson and gold—making it one of Daikanyama's best-kept secrets for autumn foliage viewing.

Originally, the elevated position of the house afforded views of Mount Fuji from the second floor. While modern development has since obscured that vista, the garden still provides a remarkable sense of seclusion. The gentle sound of rustling leaves and the play of dappled sunlight through the canopy make it easy to forget that you are in the heart of one of the world's largest cities.

Visitor Information and Tips

The Former Asakura House is open to the public year-round, except on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday falls on a national holiday) and during the year-end/New Year period (December 29 to January 3). From March through October, visiting hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:30 PM), and from November through February, hours are 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM).

Admission is 500 yen for general visitors and 50 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Shibuya Ward residents receive discounted rates at 200 yen (proof of address required). Visitors aged 60 and over who are Shibuya Ward residents, as well as persons with disabilities and one accompanying person, are admitted free of charge.

As the building is a protected cultural property, visitors must remove their shoes upon entry, and barefoot entry is not permitted—be sure to wear or bring socks. Photography rules should be confirmed at the reception desk. There is no parking available at the facility, and visitors are asked not to bring pets onto the premises. The property is not fully accessible for wheelchair users; those requiring assistance should inquire in advance.

Nearby Attractions and Surrounding Area

The Former Asakura House is ideally located to combine with exploration of the Daikanyama and Nakameguro neighborhoods. The Hillside Terrace complex, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki on land that once belonged to the Asakura estate, is directly adjacent and features galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. A short walk away, the Daikanyama T-Site (Tsutaya Books) offers a world-renowned bookstore experience set in a beautifully designed architectural space.

Heading south for about ten minutes on foot brings you to Nakameguro, famous for its cherry blossom-lined Meguro River and a vibrant collection of independent shops and eateries. The charming Saigoyama Park, where cherry blossoms bloom spectacularly in early April, is also nearby. For those interested in more cultural exploration, the Embassy of Denmark and the Embassy of Egypt are located along Kyu-Yamate-dori Avenue, adding an international flavor to the area.

Ebisu, with its Yebisu Garden Place, museum, and diverse dining scene, is also within comfortable walking distance. The combination of traditional heritage and contemporary sophistication makes this part of Tokyo an exceptionally rewarding area to explore on foot.