Former Togu Palace (Akasaka Palace State Guest House)

The Former Crown Prince's Palace: Japan's Only Neo-Baroque Palace

Standing majestically in the heart of Tokyo's Moto-Akasaka district, the State Guest House Akasaka Palace (formally known as the Former Tōgū Palace) is Japan's sole example of Neo-Baroque palatial architecture. Completed in 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince, this magnificent building represents the pinnacle of Meiji-era Western-style architecture. In 2009, it earned the distinction of becoming the first modern building (post-Meiji Restoration) to be designated as a National Treasure of Japan—a testament to its extraordinary architectural, artistic, and historical significance.

Today, the palace serves a dual purpose: as Japan's premier state guest house for hosting world leaders and dignitaries, and as a publicly accessible cultural landmark where visitors can experience one of the finest examples of East-meets-West architecture anywhere in the world.

A Grand Vision Born of the Meiji Era

The story of Akasaka Palace begins in the late 19th century, when Japan was rapidly modernizing and sought to demonstrate its place among the world's great nations. The site itself carries centuries of history: during the Edo period, it was the secondary residence of the powerful Kishū Tokugawa clan. After the Meiji Restoration, the land was offered to the Imperial Household, and from 1873 to 1888, Emperor Meiji used it as a temporary imperial residence following a fire at the main palace.

In 1899, construction began on a grand new palace intended as the residence of Crown Prince Yoshihito (later Emperor Taishō). The project was entrusted to Katayama Tōkuma (1854–1917), one of Japan's foremost architects and a student of the renowned British architect Josiah Conder, who had designed landmark buildings such as the Rokumeikan. Katayama traveled extensively through Europe, studying palaces in France, Austria, and England—particularly Versailles, the Louvre, and Buckingham Palace—to inform his design.

The result was a masterpiece that took ten years and an enormous budget to complete. The total construction cost of approximately 5.1 million yen at the time was staggering—roughly half the cost of building a state-of-the-art battleship. Katayama mobilized the finest artists, craftsmen, and engineers in Japan for the project, creating what was essentially a national artistic endeavor on an unprecedented scale.

Why It Was Designated a National Treasure

In December 2009, following a major restoration completed that year, the Former Tōgū Palace was designated as a National Treasure—the first building from the Meiji era or later to receive this highest cultural distinction. The designation encompasses not only the Main Building but also several original structures: the porte-cochère and staircase, the main gate and surrounding walls, the east and west guard houses, the main garden fountain, and the main garden staircase.

The National Treasure designation recognizes the palace as the ultimate achievement of Japan's Meiji-era modernization in architecture, art, and craftsmanship. It demonstrates how Japan's finest artists and engineers absorbed Western architectural traditions and reinterpreted them through a uniquely Japanese sensibility. The building is valued for its remarkable fusion of European palatial grandeur with distinctly Japanese artistic motifs—from bronze samurai warriors on the rooftop to exquisite cloisonné panels on the interior walls.

The structure itself is an engineering marvel for its time: a steel-reinforced brick and stone building with a floor area of approximately 15,355 square meters, incorporating 2,800 tons of steel—including custom-ordered beams from the Carnegie Steel Company in the United States—and exterior walls clad entirely in domestically quarried Makabe granite from Ibaraki Prefecture.

Highlights and Must-See Features

From Imperial Palace to State Guest House

Despite its grandeur, the palace had an ironic beginning as a residence. When Emperor Meiji first saw the completed building, he reportedly remarked that it was too extravagant. Crown Prince Yoshihito himself rarely used it, finding the palatial Neo-Baroque interiors impractical as a living space. After the Crown Prince ascended to the throne as Emperor Taishō, the building was redesignated as Akasaka Detached Palace.

Following World War II, the palace was transferred from the Imperial Household to the national government and served various institutional purposes, including housing the National Diet Library and offices for the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee in the 1960s. As Japan's international stature grew in the postwar era, the need for a proper state guest facility became pressing.

In 1967, the government decided to transform the palace into a state guest house. A massive six-year renovation project, guided by the acclaimed architect Murano Tōgo for the main building and Taniguchi Yoshirō for the new Japanese-style annex, was completed in 1974 at a cost of 10.8 billion yen. The very first state guest to be hosted at the newly renovated facility was U.S. President Gerald Ford in November 1974.

Since then, the palace has welcomed countless heads of state, royalty, and world leaders. It has also served as the venue for major international events, including the G7 Tokyo Summit.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

The Akasaka Palace is situated in one of Tokyo's most historically rich neighborhoods. Within walking distance, visitors can explore several noteworthy sites.

The Akasaka Palace Front Rest House, opened in 2020 directly in front of the main gate, is a sunken plaza featuring a café operated by a Niigata winery, a gift shop with original palace merchandise, and an information center—all free to enter. The Meiji Memorial Hall (Meiji Kinenkan), a short walk south, is a historic wedding venue and restaurant with its own distinguished architectural heritage. Sōtokuji Temple and several other historic shrines are nestled in the quiet residential streets nearby.

The Sotobori Park (Outer Moat Park), stretching along the former moat of Edo Castle near Yotsuya Station, is famous for its cherry blossom-lined promenade in spring. The Yotsuya Shinmichi-dōri street near the station offers a charming collection of traditional Japanese eateries and izakaya, providing an authentic local dining experience. Visitors looking for more modern attractions will find the commercial hub of Akasaka and Roppongi within easy reach.