Imbrie House, Western-style building at Meiji Gakuin University, Shirokanedai, Japan.
Imbrie House is a Western-style residence on the Meiji Gakuin University campus in Shirokanedai. The structure combines wooden framework with American residential forms while incorporating Japanese architectural elements in the roof, openings, and interior details.
The building was constructed in 1889 as a residence for Dr. William Imbrie, an American missionary and educator. It arose during a period when Japan was actively adopting new technologies and foreign ways of living in its cities.
The building shows how Western homes became part of Japanese daily life during the Meiji period when foreign residents lived in Japan. You can see how Japanese and American building styles existed side by side in the design.
The house sits within the university campus and can only be visited through guided tours. It is wise to check visiting hours in advance since tours are offered at set times throughout the week.
The house underwent careful restoration in 1995 that revealed original paint layers and handcrafted details from the late 1800s hidden beneath later changes. Workers uncovered woodwork and decorative elements that had been concealed for over a century.
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