State Guest-House
Encyclopedia
Akasaka Palace is a former imperial residence that functions today as the . The palace is designated by the government of Japan
as official accommodation for visiting state dignitaries. Located in the Moto, Akasaka
area of Tokyo, the building took on its present function in 1974, having previously been an imperial detached palace. In 2009 the palace was designated a National Treasure of Japan
.
The main building is the sole Neo-Baroque style Western building in Japan and one of biggest buildings constructed during the Meiji period
.
Outside and around the palace area is a footpath unobstructed by road crossings. The footpath is about 3.25 km long (roughly 2 miles).
The nearest station to the Palace is Yotsuya Station
.
during the Tokugawa period, with the main mansion located in. After the Meiji restoration
, the Owari presented the land to the Imperial Household.
Designed by the architect (a student of Josiah Conder
), the Neo-Baroque structure was constructed between 1899 and 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince
. Originally it was named Tōgū Palace
(ja. lit. "Palace for the Crown Prince") but was later renamed to Akasaka Palace when the Crown Prince's residence was moved.
Regent Crown Prince Hirohito resided at Akasaka Palace from September 1923 till September 1928, two months before his coronation. The move was intended to be temporary, but ended up lasting 5 years. During the renovation of his contemporary residence, Hirohito intended to lodge temporarily at Akasaka Palace, moving in on August 28, 1923. Four days later, Japan was hit by the Great Kantō Earthquake on September 1. During his residence in Akasaka Palace, Prince Hirohito married and fathered two daughters, Princess Sachiko (who died at 6 months old) and Princess Shigeko
.
After World War II the government of Japan took Akasaka Palace from the imperial household. Several governmental offices resided within the palace including the National Diet Library
(founded in 1948).
Since 1974, the palace provides both accommodations for state and official guests and a venue for international conferences including the G8
and APEC summits.
was opened on April 17, 2005, employing Japanese architecture. The 20,000 m² site is located in Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as official accommodation for visiting state dignitaries. Located in the Moto, Akasaka
Akasaka
-Places:*Akasaka Palace, which functions today as the State Guest-House*Akasaka, Tokyo, a district of Minato, Tokyo**akasaka Sacas, a facility in Akasaka, Tokyo*Akasaka, Okayama, a town in the Akaiwa District, Okayama...
area of Tokyo, the building took on its present function in 1974, having previously been an imperial detached palace. In 2009 the palace was designated a National Treasure of Japan
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
.
Overview
The building has 15,000 m² of floor space, and together with a smaller structure in the Japanese style, occupies a 117,000 m² site.The main building is the sole Neo-Baroque style Western building in Japan and one of biggest buildings constructed during the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
.
Outside and around the palace area is a footpath unobstructed by road crossings. The footpath is about 3.25 km long (roughly 2 miles).
The nearest station to the Palace is Yotsuya Station
Yotsuya Station
is a railway station in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, located on the boundary between Shinjuku and Chiyoda, adjacent to Sophia University and the State Guest-House, in the Yotsuya neighborhood.-History:...
.
History
The territory that Akasaka Palace occupies had been part of the Owari DomainOwari Domain
The was a feudal domain of Japan in the Edo period. Located in what is now the western part of Aichi Prefecture, it encompassed parts of Owari, Mino, and Shinano provinces. Its headquarters were at Nagoya Castle. At its peak, it was rated at 619,500 koku, and was the largest holding of the...
during the Tokugawa period, with the main mansion located in. After the Meiji restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the Owari presented the land to the Imperial Household.
Designed by the architect (a student of Josiah Conder
Josiah Conder (architect)
Josiah Conder was a British architect who worked as a foreign advisor to the government of Meiji period Japan...
), the Neo-Baroque structure was constructed between 1899 and 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
. Originally it was named Tōgū Palace
Togu Palace
Tōgū Palace is located in the Akasaka Estate in Akasaka, Tokyo, and is the official residence of Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, Masako, Crown Princess of Japan and their daughter Princess Toshi....
(ja. lit. "Palace for the Crown Prince") but was later renamed to Akasaka Palace when the Crown Prince's residence was moved.
Regent Crown Prince Hirohito resided at Akasaka Palace from September 1923 till September 1928, two months before his coronation. The move was intended to be temporary, but ended up lasting 5 years. During the renovation of his contemporary residence, Hirohito intended to lodge temporarily at Akasaka Palace, moving in on August 28, 1923. Four days later, Japan was hit by the Great Kantō Earthquake on September 1. During his residence in Akasaka Palace, Prince Hirohito married and fathered two daughters, Princess Sachiko (who died at 6 months old) and Princess Shigeko
Shigeko Higashikuni
was the wife of Prince Higashikuni Morihiro and eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. As such, she was the elder sister to the present Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.-Biography:...
.
After World War II the government of Japan took Akasaka Palace from the imperial household. Several governmental offices resided within the palace including the National Diet Library
National Diet Library
The is the only national library in Japan. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the U.S...
(founded in 1948).
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
and APEC summits.
Kyoto State Guest House
A new 16,000 m² facility in KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
was opened on April 17, 2005, employing Japanese architecture. The 20,000 m² site is located in Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Located in the center of the present-day city of Kyoto, Japan it previously occupied the northern region of the ancient capital of Kyoto. The Kamo River flows on the eastern border of the ward...
.