Akasaka Palace
| Akasaka Palace | |
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| Native name: Japanese: 迎賓館 |
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 Akasaka Palace functions as the State Guesthouse today |
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| Location: | Moto Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan |
| Coordinates: | 35°40′48″N 139°43′43″E / 35.68°N 139.72861°ECoordinates: 35°40′48″N 139°43′43″E / 35.68°N 139.72861°E |
| Area: | 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) (floor space) 117,000 m2 (1,260,000 sq ft) (site) |
| Built: | 1899-1909 |
| Built for: | Crown Prince |
| Designated: | 2009 |
 Location of Akasaka Palace in Japan
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Akasaka Palace is a former imperial residence that functions today as the "State Guesthouse" (迎賓館 Geihinkan). The palace is designated by the government of Japan as official accommodation for 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. In 2009 the palace was designated a National Treasure of Japan.[1]
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[edit] Overview
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.
The main building is the sole Neo-Baroque style Western building in Japan[2] and one of biggest buildings constructed during the Meiji period[1].
Outside and around the palace area is a footpath unobstructed by road crossings. The footpath is about 3.25 km long (roughly 2 miles).
The nearest station to the Palace is Yotsuya Station.
[edit] History
The territory that Akasaka Palace occupies had been part of the Owari Domain during the Tokugawa period, with the main mansion located in[2]. After the Meiji restoration, the Owari presented the land to the Imperial Household.
Designed by the architect Katayama Tōkuma (片山 東熊) (a student of Josiah Conder), the Neo-Baroque structure was constructed between 1899 and 1909 as a residence for the Crown Prince. Originally it was named Tōgū Palace (ja. lit. "Palace for the Crown Prince") but was later renamed to Akasaka Palace when the Crown Prince's residence was moved[2].
Regent Crown Prince Hirohito resided at Akasaka Palace from September 1923[3] till September 1928, two months before his coronation. The move was intended to be temporary, but ended up lasting 5 years. During the renovation of his contemporary residence, Hirohito intended to lodge temporarily at Akasaka Palace, moving in on August 28, 1923. Four days later, Japan was hit by the Great Kantō Earthquake[3] on September 1. During his residence in Akasaka Palace, Prince Hirohito married and fathered two daughters, Princess Sachiko (who died at 6 months old) and Princess Shigeko.
After World War II the government of Japan took Akasaka Palace from the imperial household. Several governmental offices resided within the palace including the National Diet Library (founded in 1948)[4].
Since 1974, the palace provides both accommodations for state and official guests and a venue for international conferences including the G8 and APEC[2] summits.
[edit] Kyoto State Guest House
A new 16,000 m² facility in Kyoto was opened on April 17, 2005, employing Japanese architecture. The 20,000 m² site is located in Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto.
[edit] External links
Media related to Akasaka Palace at Wikimedia Commons
[edit] References
- ^ a b "国宝・重要文化財（建造物）の指定について" (in Japanese) (PDF). Tokyo: Agency for Cultural Affairs. 2009-10-16. http://www.bunka.go.jp/oshirase_other/2009/pdf/kokuho_juyoubunkazai_091016.pdf.
- ^ a b c d Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (2008). "迎賓館" (in Japanese). http://www8.cao.go.jp/geihinkan/. Retrieved 13:39, 2010 March 4.
- ^ a b 昭和聖徳記念財団 (Showa Memorial Foundation). "6月公開「山本内閣親任式の図」" (in Japanese). http://www.f-showa.or.jp/2_jigyo/1_kinenkan_5.html. Retrieved 2010 March 4.
- ^ 国立国会図書館 (National Diet Library). "沿革" (in Japanese). http://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/aboutus/outline_02development.html. Retrieved 13:39, 2010 March 4.
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