This beautiful villa has a rich history when Shogunate and Royalty used to walk its halls. The villa used to be located in Tokyo, where it was the Edo residence of the Kishi Tokugawa clan. However, by the end of Edo period in 1868, the residence became Imperial property and by 1872 it officially became the summer residence of Japan’s Imperial family.

Visitors can reach Tamozawa Villa by taking the Nikko sightseeing bus to the ’Nikko Tamozawa’ bus stop, and from there the site is directly in front of you. You can comfortably spend around over 1 hour here walking through the various rooms, admiring the architecture, and walking among nature in the Villa’s garden. It is especially beautiful in the Spring and Autumn when the garden has beautiful Cherry Blossom and Autumn leaves on display.

The villa is one of the largest original wooden buildings in all of Japan, and consists of an impressive 106 rooms in total! Moving this structure from Tokyo to Nikko must have been no easy task! The villa became Emperor Taisho’s summer residence, where he enjoyed long summer breaks away from the capital with his wife, family and many supporting staff. The Imperial family would also host dinner parties and important events with foreign dignitaries. It was also used as an evacuation location and hideout for Emperor HiroHito during the air raids of WW2. There is still the air raid shelter in the garden which visitors can see. Visitors can enjoy seeing the architecture which is a mix of Edo and Taisho, and Meiji period. One of the best features of the villa is its beautifully painted cedar panels!

Following on from the end of the War, the residence was not used by the Imperial family and so fell into a state of disrepair. The Tochigi Government took over the site and started a huge renovation and repair project to restore the villa to its original glory. They opened it to the public in 2000 and visitors have been enjoying its beauty ever since. In recent times, a tea house and cafe have been added to the villa’s grounds. Visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese Matcha and sweet sets after their visit. The wagashi sweets are in the shape of the Imperial Family crest, and add a nice touch to the tea room experience.

Want to experience the beauty of Tamozawa Imperial Villa for yourself?

Why not join our ’1 Day Tour : Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park’ tour . Available throughout the year, this is the perfect tour to venture out of Tokyo. All tours are led by locally-based guides and will take you around the must-see sights in the region, as well as some lesser known gems. Our tours are fun, interactive and family-friendly. For more information, or to book a tour, click on the banner.

1 Day Tour

1 Day Tour : Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park
Period	April – October
Time	08:40 – 19:15
Meeting Place	Outside Asakusa Ekimise Department Store
Adult Rate	¥24,900
Child Rate	¥18,900