Historic Toki Residence, Registered Cultural Property in Kaminochō, Japan
The Historic Toki Residence is a Western-style house featuring Jugendstil elements located in Kaminochō. The building combines European design principles with Japanese construction methods, displaying decorated facades and carefully detailed interior spaces throughout.
The house was built in 1924 during a time when Japan was exploring European architectural ideas and incorporating them into residential buildings. This period marked a turning point when wealthy Japanese families intentionally chose Western design for their homes.
The residence shows how Japanese households adopted Western design ideas as a mark of modernity for wealthy families at that time. The rooms blend Western comfort expectations with traditional Japanese living practices, creating a home that served both worlds.
Visitors can explore the preserved architectural features through guided tours that explain both Western and Japanese building techniques. It is helpful to check in advance whether tours are available and what to expect during your visit.
The building features Jugendstil elements throughout, including curved lines and nature-inspired patterns that show how European modern design movements quickly reached Japanese homes. This blend of artistic design and practical living was unusual for residential houses at that time.
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