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| Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park |
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Part 2 Other Visiting Spots in Nikko
December 13th, 2014 (2nd day) |
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We stayed one night at a long-named hotel "Kozuchi-no-yado Tsuru-kame
Daikichi" (The Inn of a Small Mallet "Very Good Luck with Cranes
and Tortoises ").
When we were thinking of this trip we wished to stay in the hotel near
the world heritage site, and found this hotel on the Internet.
The hotel, along Daiya River, was really within 10-minute walking from
Rinnoji Temple.
Its pride was dishes.
A lot of delicious dishes at the dinner were a little too much for us to
eat all.
Breakfast was also not ordinary. We left some, too.
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It was unexpectedly fine on the second day, December 13th.
We changed our schedule and decided to visit Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial
Park under the advice of a hotel staff, saying "Surely worth going
there and not far from here."
We left the hotel before 10:00 in this appearance.
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| Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
We walked slowly on the country road seeing rural sights around, and arrived
at the park in 20 minutes.
Firstly, we entered the villa and looked around a number of noble rooms
both on the 1st and 2nd floor.
Secondly, we happened to be able to enjoy an ancient-instrument concert
in the villa, as mentioned below.
Thirdly, we had much time to stroll in the memorial park.
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This building (Former Tamozawa Imperial Villa) was built in 1899 for the
purpose of the Emperor of Taisho's rest.
Main frame of the building was brought from Akasaka detached palace, and construction started from 1898 and it ended in June 1899. After that, a big reform was carried out for the purpose of the Emperor's stay from 1918 to 1920.
It is 4,500 square meters and has 106 rooms. Emperor Taisho had passed
the summer in this villa every year since 1925. In Showa period, Emperor
Showa and Empress Koujun also stayed there, and the Showa Emperor evacuated
to Nikko for a year from 1944. It was the time of the World War 2.
The park area was 107,000 square meters at the time of 1922, but it has
been 30,000 square meters today.
Tamozawa Imperial Villa is valuable from the following four aspects.
1. This building is very precious in terms of architecture. For example, it is well harmonized with construction style of Edo, Meiji and Taisho period.
2. It is one of the biggest wooden buildings in Japan.
3. This Imperial Villa is the only one, which is existing. Other Former
Imperial Villas in Meiji period are not.
4. It has a cultural value entire the building judging from decoration and paintings inside.
(Nikko Tourism Association)
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When we were leaving the villa, a staff stopped us and led us to the hall,
where a Japanese ancient-instrument music concert was about to start. We
enjoyed an unexpected event for one hour and a half.
The instruments were four koto of Waku Koto Ensemble, one marimba and one
shakuhachi (a Japanese vertical bamboo flute).
They played the famous ancient music called "Rokudan-no-shirabe",
Christmas musics and modern melodies.
No camera during the concert. So, the above picture just after the concert is precious to me.
The concert was headed by Ms. Fumiko Waku, the Ambassador of Nikko Sightseeing.
Her picture below is from a certain site on the Internet.
Nikko is not only the sightseeing spot of the World Heritage Sites, Chuzenji
Lake and Kegon Fall.
But also Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park is really worthwhile to
visit. If there is an ancient-instrument concert there during your visit,
you will be lucky.
Other pictures of Tamozawa Imperial Villa
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| Sacred Bridge (Shinkyo)
I looked at this bridge every time I came to Nikko.
But this was my first time to stay there for a considerable while.
It was regrettably closed to walk on, but enough to enjoy the atmosphere.
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It is a vermilion lacquered bridge, 28 meters long and 7 meters wide. According
to an ancient legend, Shodo-shonin, a high-ranking priest, crossed this
bridge in the Nara period (710-794) protected by the virtues of Jinjyo-o.
The bridge looks down over the clear water of the Daiya River. The contrast
between the vermilion bridge and the quiet green in the background displays
on exquisite effect of beauty. ("The Outline of Nikko" by Rinnoji
Temple) |
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Other pictures of Sacred Bridge
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| Reading: 8' 26" |
| Total Reading Time: 20' 47" |
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