Hekiun-sō, Private villa in Sakyō-ku, Japan
Hekiun-sō is a private residence in Sakyō-ku comprising multiple structures built in Sukiya-zukuri style with tatami rooms and sliding doors arranged around a central garden courtyard. A pond within this garden is fed by water diverted from Lake Biwa Canal, and the estate encompasses seventeen buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Tokushichi Nomura II, founder of Nomura Bank, began building the villa in 1918, the same year the bank was established, and work continued until about 1928. The design was by Kitamura Sutejirō and others, with gardens by Ogawa Jihei and his son Yasutarō. It was designated an Important Cultural Property on 19 December 2006.
The estate is normally closed to the public; access is limited to major clients of Nomura Securities. Since 2007, public viewings have been held once every four years, and the 2020 event drew over 1,500 applicants for 90 places. The grounds include a Noh stage and tea houses, and the garden incorporates a relocated "Izumi Sakafune-ishi" stone linked to the Sakafune-ishi ruins.
The estate is normally not open to visitors as it remains a private property. Occasional public viewing events are held, so checking ahead for available times is worthwhile.
The garden holds the Izumi Sakafune-ishi, a stone relic moved here and thought to be linked to the Sakafune-ishi ruins. In July 2010 Steve Jobs visited the estate. Public tours have run roughly every four years since 2007; in 2020 about 1,500 people applied for 90 places.
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