The British Embassy Villa Memorial Park is where you can enjoy the rich nature of Lake Chuzenji and the history of an international summer resort.
From the mid Meiji period to the early Showa period, Chuzenji lakeside was invigorated as an international summer resort because the respective embassies and many foreigners built their villas in the area.
The building inside the premise was built in 1896 as the private villa of Ernest Satow who was a British diplomat and gave a major impact to the Meiji restoration, and it was restored to the image of the British Embassy villa which was used for many years.
The history as an international summer resort and the British culture at that time are introduced inside.
Also, from the spacious veranda on the second floor, you can enjoy the most of “the picturesque landscape” of Chuzenji lakeside Satow loved.
Ernest Satow who loved Okunikko deeply. It was 1872 when he first visited the land, and three years later he issued the English guidebook called “Nikko Guide” to introduce Nikko to the world.
In 1896, he built his own mountain villa on the south bank of Chuzenji lakeside and enjoyed his favorite mountain climing and botanization. Isabella Bird once stayed at this mountain villa and described “the marvelous view of the landscape from the mountain villa” in the letter to her friend. Eventually, the mountain villa was turned into the British Embassy Villa and used until 2008.
Enjoy Chuzenji lakeside Satow loved and the British culture to your heart’s content.
Here is an introduction of his life who has given a major influence on the Meiji restoration and built this villa in 1896.
Introduced are the history of the international summer resort, rich nature of Okunikko, Dr. Hisayoshi Takeda who is the second son of Satow, and the reason why Satow chose this place for his villa, feature of the building, etc.
The successful time of Satow in England back then was the Victorian Period, the golden age of its culture and art.
Introduces “Arts and Crafts Movement” which aims to restore the manual work and improvement of industrial design.
2nd Floor
British Cultural Communication Room
This is a space where you can experience the culture of international summer resort which once became prevalent at Chuzenji lakeside.
Served at “Tea Room Minami Yonban Classic” are a set of scones and tea and so one which are supervised by the chef at the British Embassy.
Enjoy along with the view from the 2nd floor of the villa.
The same as the memorial park
Set of scone and tea supervised by the British Embassy chef, etc.
・Take limited express Spacia/Liberty from Tobu Railway “Asakusa St.” and get off at “Tobu Nikko St.”
・Take JR Line/Tobu limited express directly from JR “Shinjuku St.” and get off at “Tobu Nikko St.”
・Take JR Nikko Line from Tohoku Shinkansen “Utsunomiya St.” and get off at “Nikko Station”
Take Tobu Bus from JR Nikko Station bound for “Chuzenji Onsen/ Yumoto Onsen” via Tobu Nikko Station, get off at “Chuzenji Onsen” followed by 35-min walk
※During the bus operation period for Mt. Hangetsusan (7/16-11/13), get off at “Italian/British Embassy Villa Memorial Parks” and take a 5-min-walk
About 50 minutes drive from Utsunomiya IC on Tohoku Expressway via Utsunomiya IC, Kiyotaki IC and Irohazaka
and 10-min-walk from the prefectural Utagahama parking (free of charge)
※The municipal road on the lakeside is currently under traffic control against general vehicles for the purpose of natural environment conservation.
Please do visit us on foot.
5 minutes walk from "Taishikan Besso Kinen Koen Sanbashi" of Lake Chuzenji Pleasure Boat