Keiunkan, 19th-century guesthouse in Nagahama, Japan
Keiunkan is a 19th-century guesthouse in Nagahama featuring traditional Japanese architecture with spacious halls and decorative lighting elements adorned with plum blossom patterns. The interior shows careful craftsmanship throughout, with wooden beams, tatami spaces, and details that reveal how the building was designed to impress visiting dignitaries.
Built in 1887 by businessman Asami Matazo, the structure was later chosen to host Emperor and Empress Meiji during their visit to the region. This imperial visit became a defining moment that elevated the site's status as a place of national importance.
The name reflects its role as a place of refined gatherings in the Meiji era. Visitors today can observe the craftsmanship evident in the interior details and furnishings that shaped how important guests were once received.
The venue opens seasonally, so visitors should confirm availability before planning a trip and allow time to walk through multiple rooms and hallways at a leisurely pace. Comfortable shoes are essential since you will be moving between traditional wooden floors and tatami areas throughout your visit.
The venue hosts an exhibition of plum bonsai trees, some hundreds of years old, displayed during the seasonal opening. These miniature specimens represent centuries of careful cultivation and showcase a specialized Japanese horticultural tradition that most visitors find memorable.
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