Series POLICY-RELATED NEWS The Main Building of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace The two State Guest Houses, located in Tokyo and Kyoto, are national facilities to welcome mon- archs, presidents, prime ministers and other dignitaries with the best hospitality. Both Guest Houses are open to the general public, as long as their primary activities of welcoming dignitaries are not interrupted, and visitors can enter into the interior of the buildings and see the interior decorations and furniture integrating the best essence of Japanese architecture, art, craftsmanship and more. SAWAJI OSAMU coronavirus disease (COVID-19) medallions depicting flowers of measures in place, such as temper- the four seasons and birds. ature checks at the entrance, sta- In Hagoromo no Ma, where State Guest House, Akasaka Palace tioning of hand sanitizer dispens- dignitaries are ceremonially wel- ers, and ensuring of social distance comed, three huge chandeliers—at The State Guest House, Akasaka between visitors. 3 meters tall the largest of all those Palace, located not far from Yot- The Main Building, with its two in the State Guest House—hang suya Station in Tokyo, was origi- above ground floors and one base- from the ceiling, which is painted nally built as the Togu Gosho ment floor, is 125 meters wide, with pictures based on the noh (Crown Prince’s Residence) in 89 meters deep, and 23.2 meters play Hagoromo (Robe of Heaven). 1909. After the Second World War, tall. It is the only palace in Japan Used as a waiting room for various governmental organiza- that was built in the Neo-Baroque guests, Sairan no Ma is decorated tions used the building, and it was style. There are four rooms set up with golden reliefs of mythical opened as the State Guest House to welcome guests. ran birds, which symbolize peace. in 1974 after undergoing large- Asahi no Ma, the most elegant There are other highlights as well, scale repairs. At that time, Yush- room in the State Guest House and including a large hall and the main intei, a Japanese-style annex, was used as a salon for dignitaries, fea- garden with its fountain. newly built for tea ceremonies and tures a ceiling painting of Aurora, A tourist lounge (9 a.m. to 5 other forms of Japanese-style hos- the Roman goddess of dawn, driv- p.m., closed Wednesdays, free pitality. Since then, the State Guest ing a chariot in front of the rising entry) was opened in June 2020 House has been a place for state sun. A hand-woven dantsu carpet in the park in front of the State guests and other dignitaries to stay with cherry blossom designs is laid Guest House. In addition to rest and a stage for diplomacy for sum- out on the floor. areas set up both inside and out- mit meetings, the hosting of inter- The ash panel walls of Kacho no side, the tourist lounge features national conferences, and more. In Ma, where banquets are held, are a multi-purpose toilet, café, gift 2009, the Main Building, front gate decorated with thirty cloisonné shop, and a multi-screen display and other parts were designated as National Treasures. State Guest House, Akasaka Palace In April 2016, the buildings Access: 7-minute walk from Yotsuya Station on the JR and Tokyo Metro lines began to be opened to the public Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (usually closed on Wednesdays) year-round, with many tourists Admission Fees: Adult ¥1,500 (Main Building and gardens can be visited. Advanced reservations are from within Japan and abroad required to visit the Japanese-style annex. The fee for the Main Building, Japanese-style annex, and gardens is ¥2,000) coming to visit. Currently, the URL: www.geihinkan.go.jp/en/akasaka buildings are open with novel 22 | highlighting japan 1 2 3 1 The tourist lounge in the park that plays films related to the year-round from 2016. Currently, in front of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace State Guest House. the Kyoto State Guest House is 2 Fuji no Ma in the Kyoto State implementing thorough measures Guest House Kyoto State Guest to prevent COVID-19 infection, and 3 Kiri no Ma in the Kyoto State House the buildings are opened to the pub- Guest House lic with advanced reservation only The Kyoto State Guest House was while guided tours are conducted sine is served, and guests of honor opened in 2005 to welcome dis- with a limited number of guests. can gaze at the Japanese-style gar- tinguished guests from abroad to At the Kyoto State Guest House, den from where they are seated. Kyoto, the ancient capital boasting visitors can see many beautiful And from the open-air covered a long history and rich traditional pieces of furniture made using bridge that crosses the pond, visi- culture. The building, located traditional Japanese techniques. tors can see the shapes of many inside the Kyoto Gyoen National For example, when banquets and varicolored carp slowly swimming Garden, features an irimoya-style ministerial meetings are held, among the reflection of the build- roof and a sukiya-style external Juraku no Ma is used as a waiting ing on the water’s surface. appearance typical of Japanese room for dignitaries or accompa- Opening hours at the Kyoto traditional residences, in order to nying staff. In the room, there are State Guest House are extended harmonize with its historic land- comfortable chairs, constructed until 7 p.m. for two days, from scape and surrounding natural without iron nails using the kyo- November 21 (Sat) through 22 environment. The interior incor- sashimono traditional joinery (Sun), with guided tours for a small porates wood and washi paper in technique, covered in a vivid group of people starting at 4:30, abundance creating a distinctively crimson upholstery, woven in 5:10, and 5:50 p.m. On these days, Japanese atmosphere. The con- Kyoto's Nishijin district. the building and gardens are illu- cept for the interior is made up of In Fuji no Ma, used as a venue minated and their daytime appear- “modern Japanese,” combining for banquets and ceremonial ance is transformed. The soft, the essence and beauty of tradi- welcomes, a tapestry depicting golden light filtering through the tional Japanese architecture with thirty-nine varieties of flowers paper sliding doors of the Kyoto modern architectural techniques, and woven in the tsuzure-ori tech- State Guest House is reflected and the teioku-ichinyo philosophy, nique brings splendor to the room. in the pond making the building in which an exquisite harmony is A 12-meter-long deep black lac- appear to float, and the colorful achieved between a Japanese gar- quer table is located at the center autumn leaves in the garden look den and its buildings. of Kiri no Ma, a Japanese-style more radiant than ever. The Kyoto State Guest House room with tatami mats for ban- began to be opened to the public quets where authentic Kyoto cui- The Kyoto State Guest House Access: 7-minute walk from the Kyoto City Bus Furitsu Idai Byoin-mae (Univ. Hospital, Kyoto Prefectural Univ. of Medicine) bus stop. 15-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line. 20-minute walk from Demachi Yanagi Station on the Keihan Railway Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission Fees: Adult ¥2,000 (For the time being, guided tours are conducted ten times a day. Each tour is for up to thirty people. Advanced reservations required) The Kyoto State Guest House URL: www.geihinkan.go.jp/en/kyoto/ illuminated in 2019 during a period of extended opening hours All Photos: Courtesy of the Cabinet Office State Guest Houses SEPTEMBER 2020 | 23.