Built in 1919 by Torajiro Asakura as his house, and a place for him to conduct business. He was a successful timber merchant, who became a councilor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. Amazingly the house survived both the Great Kantō earthquake and the Second World War, and was preserved by architect Fumihiko Maki as a good example of Taisho era architecture.
A highlight are the well established grounds that surround the house, and it is an oasis of peace just 10 minutes walk from Ebisu Station.
Entry for tourists is ¥500. Note that if you don't have socks you'll need to buy a pair for ¥100 as you need to remove your shoes to explore inside the house.
If you enjoyed visiting this I'd highly recommend Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum, which has more many similar houses, and others from different periods of Tokyo's history.
What can I say ? It is a magnificent and peaceful visit that flows so naturally. The entry fee is only 500 yen, which is next to nothing for such an incredible experience !
The garden is absolutely beautiful and perfectly represents traditional Japanese nature.
As for the house itself, it allows you to truly observe and appreciate the stunning architecture of that era and experience its inner beauty.
I highly recommend this visit to any tourist who has even a slight interest in Japan's history ! 🇯🇵
Two French friends and tourists !🇫🇷
Kyu Asakura House has a peaceful, old-world feel, and the grounds are definitely the highlight. The way the garden slopes away from the building makes the whole visit feel calm and a little removed from the city. I especially enjoyed seeing the seasonal foliage, with camellias and Japanese red maples adding a lot in December.
Beautiful and peaceful. A historic house in the heart of the city, near Shibuya. The surrounding area is also great for walking around and has many nice cafes. It's easy to get there. The ticket seller was very kind and helpful. The atmosphere is lovely, and the garden is shady with trees.
For a simple $500 yen this was a beautiful place to explore. The grounds are stunning during the sunset hours and the restrooms at the front of the facility were extremely well maintained. The rest of the house is an excellent experience and would highly recommend for those who can appreciate and respect the cultural significance of the facility and will adhere to posted rules and requests to maintain the integrity for future generations to share.
