Photo Collection:
State Guest House, Akasaka Palace

[Japanese]

  Akasaka Place is a degnified structure that stands on an 11.7-hectare site fringed deeply with verdure. Originally the Akasaka Detached Palace, the building was constructed in 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince of the time. In 1974, after five years of renovation work, the Palace became State Guest House for foreign dignitaries visiting Japan. Also at that time, a new Japanese-style annex was built in the eastern wooded area of the Palace grounds.

Front View

  The State Guest House is a neobaroque style structure. The patina-green roof, granite walls and other features embellishing the Palace exterior create an aesthetically unified effect.

  South of the Palace is the Main Yard. Its gravel surface is dotted with graceful pines and in its center lies a flower-encircled pond with a fountain.

Main Entrance

  The Main Entrance is overlooked by a balcony; above runs a patina-green roof adorned on either side by representations of Japanese helmet and armor. In the center right below the roof is an insignia bearing the Imperial chrysanthemum design.

Central Stairway

  A stairway of Italian marble overlaid with red carpet descends from the Large Hall on the second floor. French marble walls gleam like mirrors on either side of the stairway and above, on the staircase balustrade, again in French marble, stand eight gilt lampstands.

  Guests proceed from the Main Entrance up the Central Stairway to the Large Hall on the second floor. On the wall facing the stairway are two large paintings by the artist Ryohei Koiso, "Painting" on the left, and "Music" on the right. The Hall features eight large columns of Italian marble.

  The Sairan-no-Ma is named after the legendary bird "Ran" (phoenix), which appears on the golden relief above the large mirrors on either side of the room and also on the gray marbel-topped fireplace. The white ceiling and walls are adorned with gilt stucco relief, while the 10 large mirrors on the walls make the room look more spacious.
  The room is used as a waiting room for ushered guests until meetings with state and official guests begin. This room is also used as a lounge where guests are received by state and official guests prior to the banquet. Ceremonies of signing treaties and agreements and media interviews with state and official guests are also conducted in this room.

  The Kacho-no-Ma (Flowers and Birds Room) derives its name from the numerous flowers and birds depicted in the 36 oil painting on the ceiling, the Gobelin tapestries on the transoms, together with the 30 elliptical cloisonne plaques on the walls. The surrounding board-walls wainscoted with liver-colored Ash-tree (Fraxius Japonica) are the place where the cloisonne plaques are decorated. The cloisonne plaques were designed by the Japanse-style painter, Seitei Watanabe, and produced by Sosuke Namikawa, a genius artisan in this field of the Meiji Era.
  This room is mainly used for official banquets hosted by state and official guests, with seating capacity up to 130.

  The Asahi-no-Ma is named after the painting on the ceiling, depicting a goddess driving a chariot with the rising sun behind her. The 16 columns surrounding the room are made from Norwegian marbles. The walls are covered with the artistic brocaded velvet of Nishijin, Kyoto, whilte the carpet on the floor is woven by strings of 47 purple shades portraying cherry blossoms.
  This room is used as a salon, holding audiences and important meetings for state and official guests

  The name Hagoromo-mo-Ma comes from the imposing 300 squre meters painting on the ceiling, which depicts scenes from the Noh play "Hagoromo" (Robe of Heaven). The three chandeliers in this room are the most gorgeous ones in the Palace. Each chandelier is composed by 7,000 pieces, three meters in height and weighting 800 kilograms. The walls are decorated with stucco relief of musical instruments and scores. On the mezzanine floor is an orchestra gallery which reminds us of the days when it was originally designed as a ballroom.
  Today this room is mainly used for welcoming ceremonies in case of unfavorable weather, as well as receptions and conferences. When an official banquet is held at the Kacho-no-Ma, beverages are served to the guests in this room before and after the dinner.