Akasaka Palace

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Akasaka Palace functions as the State Guesthouse today

President Clinton meeting Prime Minister Hashimoto in 1996

Akasaka Palace is a former imperial residence that functions today as the State Guesthouse (迎賓館, Geihinkan^?). It is a facility in which the government of Japan accommodates visiting state dignitaries. Located in the Moto Akasaka area of Tokyo, the building took on its present function in 1974, having previously been an imperial detached palace.

Designed by the architect Katayama Tokuma (片山東熊^?) (a pupil of Josiah Conder), the Neo-baroque structure was constructed between 1899 and 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince. The residence of the crown prince's household today is Tōgū Palace. The building has 15,000 m² of floor space, and, together with a smaller structure in the Japanese style, occupies a 117,000 m² site.

Outside and around the palace area is a footpath unobstructed by road crossings. The footpath is about 3.25 km (roughly 2 miles) and very suitable for running and jogging.

The nearest station to the Palace is Yotsuya Station.

A new facility in Kyoto opened on April 17, 2005, which employs Japanese architecture. It measures about 16,000 m² on the ground floor and basement. The 20,000 m² site is in Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto.