Kyu Asakura House

A rare opportunity to see what a traditional Japanese home looks like.
In the countryside of Japan, there are many opportunities to see what a traditional Japanese home looks like. Also, if you are visiting Kyoto, you will get a chance to see some as well. Here in Tokyo, there are very few homes like this that is open to public. Due to high demand of space, many of the old homes were destroyed in order to build a large building. Many were burned during the world war II and the great earthquake.
This mansion, built in 1919, was a home of a local government leader in Shibuya Ward.
IMPORTANT: Don’t lose the point of the view that this was a mansion. NOT at all representative of a common person’s home. Super rich guy’s home. All it is missing is a tennis court, swimming pool, and a Jacuzzi.
WHY THIS IS A TREAT: Asakura’s home is a hidden gem. If you ask a Tokyo local, 80% of the people will likely not know about this place. They will say,“What?! Where do you want to go? Never heard of it. Must not be good.” Only Unilocalers, urban adventurers, knows about places like this.
Sure, there are many famous old homes in Kyoto, but they are mostly very crowded. Here, there are very few visitors. The place is so quiet, you will forget that you are just minutes away from Shibuya and Daikanyama. Because there are very few tourists, it really feels like you are entering someone’s home as a guest. You can close your eyes and imagine how Asakura’s family used this building. I went in February, so I was immediately struck by how cold the house felt. I remembered how my grandparent’s homes were also very cold in the winter. These are the interesting little things you get to pick up as you tour the house.
FEE: 100 YEN. Super cheap.
RULES: You can leave your bag at the ticket booth. Otherwise, if you are carrying a backpack, you need to hold it in front of you. Don’t touch stuff as things are fragile.
GARDEN: Large beautiful garden. You will even see a stone lantern.

Daikanyama est un quartier branché et comme son voisin Ebisu il est assez occidentalisé.
Il est donc surprenant d’y trouver en son coeur un lieu charmant et fidèle à la tradition japonaise.
Nommée la Kyu Asakura House, cette maison construite en 1919 et son jardin sont véritablement un petit havre de paix et un passage obligé pour ceux qui voudront se détendre et s’évader quelques instants de la vie folle tokyoïte.
Il s’agit là d’une des plus belles demeures de la ville.
Elle a survécu au grand tremblement de terre de 1923 et la seconde guerre mondiale. Elle fut entre autres occupée par les services du ministre de l’économie.
En 2004 elle est reconnue comme un bien culturel important et devient ouverte au public.
Je né peux que conseiller cet endroit, d’autant plus que le prix d’entrée est dérisoire.