旧岩崎家末廣別邸, Former aristocratic residence in Tomisato, Japan
The Iwasaki Villa is a former aristocratic residence with three structures: a wooden main house, a tea pavilion, and a stone storehouse built with Oya stone walls. The layout flows from reception rooms facing south to kitchen facilities on the north side, with a central courtyard connecting the spaces.
The villa was built in 1927 as a retreat for Hisaya Iwasaki, the third president of Mitsubishi. An experimental farm was later developed on the grounds, reflecting the agricultural research interests of that period.
The house blends traditional Japanese design with innovations from the 1920s, visible in features like reinforced ceiling systems and carefully crafted details. Walking through the rooms, you notice how local craftsmanship met modern building techniques of that era.
The site is compact enough to explore all three buildings and their connected spaces comfortably within a single visit. Plan to spend time both indoors viewing the rooms and outdoors in the courtyard to appreciate the full layout.
The storehouse stands out for its armor-like iron doors at the entrance, combined with scratch tiles that give it a fortress quality. These protective features reveal how valuable property was safeguarded in wealthy households of that era.
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