🗺️ Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Parkイタリア大使館別荘記念公園

Lake Chūzenji was formed approximately 20,000 years ago by the eruption of Mount Nantai. It has a circumference of about 25 kilometers and reaches a maximum depth of 163 meters. The beautiful flowers and plants that bloom in all four seasons attract the attention of travelers. The southern shore of Lake Chūzenji is equipped with well-maintained hiking trails, allowing visitors to leisurely stroll while enjoying views of Mount Nantai across the lake. The area is also quite cool in the summer, making it a popular summer retreat for foreigners from the Meiji era to the early Showa period, with many embassies and villas of foreign nationals built along the lakeside. Among these, the Italian Embassy villa is particularly noteworthy for its stunning lake views. Designed by architect and diplomat Antonin Raymond, the interior and exterior walls feature beautiful wooden paneling made from cedar arranged in a grid pattern. The entire villa feels as if it is seamlessly integrated with Lake Chūzenji, and visitors can enjoy the magnificent lake scenery from the veranda. Nearby is the British Embassy villa, built in the 29th year of the Meiji era (1896). Originally the personal villa of British diplomat Sir Ernest Mason Satow, it later became the British Embassy villa. Isabella Lucy Bird also stayed here. It has now been converted into an exhibition space open to the public for visits.

At the shores of Lake Chūzenji, beautiful plants can be admired in all four seasons. A hiking trail (approximately 13 kilometers long) has been established along the lakeside. The architecture of the Italian Embassy Villa is quite worth seeing. Nearby, there are also the British Embassy Villa and boathouses along the shores of Lake Chūzenji.