Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park

Many elegant villas standing by the lakeside of Lake Chuzenji in the rich nature were built by foreigners and embassies of various countries from the middle of Meiji Era to the beginning of Showa Era, and flourished as international summer resorts.

The building in the park was built in 1928 as a villa for the Italian Embassy, and was used by successive ambassadors until 1997.

There are two buildings in the park, the main residence and the secondary residence. The main residence has been restored by reusing floorboards, fixtures, and furniture as much as possible, and the secondary residence has been maintained as the “International Summer Palace History Museum” to introduce the former history.

Around the park, there are paths, bridges, and piers, and visitors can enjoy beautiful views of Lake Chuzenji. In particular, the terrace of the main residence offers a panoramic view of Lake Chuzenji and the surrounding mountains, and the pier offers a view of Mount Nantai.

Architecture

The designer of the villa was Czech-born Antonin Raymond (1888-1976). He moved to the U.S. at the age of 22 to work for an architectural firm. Later, he was commissioned by Frank Lloyd Wright, whom he had admired since his college days, to work on the Imperial Hotel, and visited Japan for the first time on New Year’s Eve, 1919.

The villa was to be a two-story wooden structure, and Raymond asked local craftsmen to suggest appropriate building materials. Local Nikko cedar was used for the exterior walls, and the bark and thin boards were arranged in a checkerboard pattern to create a beautiful, modern appearance.

The ceiling on the first floor is made entirely of cedar bark and is constructed in the traditional Japanese architectural style of Ajiro. The living room and study are one continuous space, but the Ajiro pattern separates each space, and Raymond’s skillful technique is one of the highlights of the building.

Main Residence

The main residence is a beautiful building designed by architect Antonin Raymond. It is said that the ambassador and his family mainly stayed here.

On the first floor, there is a dining room and a study, with a living room in the center. There is also a fireplace in the spacious great room.
The study is decorated with cedar bark in various patterns, and the large porch overlooks Lake Chuzenji.

The dining room is lined with dishes used by the ambassador, and in the living room, guests can relax on a sofa made of Italian fabric.

On the second floor, a bedroom facing the lake offers a beautiful view of Lake Chuzenji On the second floor, a bedroom that was used by the ambassador is located, and on the first floor, a bedroom that was used by the ambassador is located, and on the second floor, a bedroom that was used by the ambassador is located.

The interior and exterior are also decorated with cedar bark and a variety of ornaments. The main residence is in harmony with nature and is a symbol of an international summer resort where one can spend a relaxing time.

1F Cafe

A café where you can enjoy coffee and cookies. Souvenirs associated with the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park are also available.

Vice Residence

International Summer Palace Historical Museum

The International Summer Palace History Museum (sub-residence) has a living room and dining room with a fireplace, a large porch, a bedroom, and a kitchen. Unlike the main residence, it is located in a forest and offers beautiful seasonal views from its windows.

Here, photo panels and videos show the history of Lake Chuzenji, its rich nature, and the summer retreat brought about by the international social club. Surrounded by the lakeside, visitors can enjoy a relaxing time at the sub-residence.

Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park is a beautiful park located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan; from 1928 to 1997, there was an Italian Embassy villa on this site, which has been restored and opened to the public. The park is part of the many foreign villas built around Lake Chuzenji, and the main residence is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. There is also a British Embassy villa nearby, which is also open to the public.

The park was designed by American architect Antonin Raymond in 1928. At the time, there were many embassy villas in the Lake Chuzenji area, which was known as a summer base for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The park has been used by successive Italian ambassadors to this day, and in 1997, Tochigi Prefecture purchased the park, restored it, and opened it to the public.

The park has two buildings, the main residence and the secondary residence. The main residence has a living room, terrace, and bedroom, and displays furniture, bedding, and fireplaces. The sub-residence is maintained as the “International Summer Resort History Museum” and introduces the history of Lake Chuzenji. The interior and exterior of the building are made of cedar bark, and the walls and ceilings are beautifully decorated. There are paths, bridges, and piers around the park, and the terrace of the main residence offers a view of Lake Chuzenji and the surrounding mountains. From the pier, Mt. Nantai can also be seen.