Because this place doesn’t stand out, many Japanese people do not even know of its existence. In the heart of the bustling Daikanyama, this is a location where you can see an old style Japanese home for an entrance fee of a 100 yen, the same cost as a vending machine drink.
Here you can experience tatami, sliding doors, and Japanese style rooms. Actually for a growing number of Japanese people, many have little opportunity to come across these types of rooms because living in western style apartments is common in the city. Many people may think of the countryside or an old relative's home when they come across these traditional rooms
The Asakura family can be traced back to the later half of Edo period. The head of the Asakura household was formerly a samurai, but he would eventually come to own and operate a water mill. Using the proceeds from that business he purchased land in the nearby Shibuya area. In the following Meiji period the family operated successful rice and grain stores.
The house you are currently in was owned and built by Toraji Asakura, a descendant of this same Asakura family. Toraji served as the Tokyo metropolitan government Speaker of the House and the Shibuya ward Speaker of the House.
The large street in front of the house is said to be the old location of the Yamanote line. The width of the road has not changed since it was converted to a regular street which is the reason that it remains so large.
Unfortunately during World War II a large piece of the land was destroyed. The family then was forced to sell a portion of the grounds. With the remaining land they decided to build both business and apartment complexes. The buildings that were created as a result of this idea are now the current Hillside Terrace complex, which is the strip of buildings that borders the current grounds.
The newly built complex would come to host many art exhibitions, and artists began to gather together in the area. It is not far off to say that without this influence Daikanyama would have never become the sleek designed and chic town it is now. The house grounds eventually came under the control of the Shibuya local government.
There are more than a few stories behind the way this town is shaped. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to separate the Daikanyama neighborhood story from the Asakura house.
Climb to the second floor of the house and enjoy the view. You can’t help but wonder what people 100 years ago saw from here. In this historical building maybe you can get a better idea of the world people once saw.
Name: Kyu Asakura House
Address: Tokyo, Shibuya-Ku, Sarugakuchou 29-20
Hours: 10:00am～18:00pm
☎︎ +81 03-3476-1021
