Nagoya Culture Path: Tour of Three Cultural Properties

The Shumokukan on the Culture Path, formerly the residence of Mr. Iimoto Tamesaburo, consists of a two-story Western-style building, a single-story Japanese-style building, and two warehouses to the east and west, along with a tea room in the garden. The Western-style building was used for negotiating the export of ceramics, inviting foreign buyers, and is said to have facilities like Western-style toilets, a bathtub, and an entertainment room on the second floor. Stained glass, a luxury at the time, was generously incorporated.

Sasuke Toyota was a businessman who supported his brother, the inventor and entrepreneur Sakichi Toyota. At that time, there were residences for Sakichi Toyota in Nagahashi-cho, Kiichiro Toyota in Shirakabe-cho, and Rizaburo Toyota. However, only the residence of Sasuke Toyota remains today, and the residence of Rizaburo Toyota has only its gate and fence left. The Sasuke Toyota residence consists of a white-tiled wooden Western-style house built around 1923 (there are some variations in the year) and a spacious Japanese-style house. On the first floor of the Western-style house, there are decorations such as lotus bud-shaped lighting, decorative elements on the hanging eaves, and ventilators designed with the characters for Toyoda and cranes.

The Tokugawa Art Museum, which was built in 1920, underwent renovations, including the restoration of the study, tea room, and storehouse, and the construction of a multipurpose hall. It reopened in April 2007. The garden, inspired by the Hyakki Yagyo-zu Byobu screen (Important Cultural Property) owned by the Tokugawa Art Museum, can be enjoyed throughout the seasons. In the hall, guests can enjoy tea and piano performances while overlooking the garden. The hall, built on the site of the former main house, allows for self-service tea and coffee. Looking outside the window, the flowers in the garden delight the eyes. Approximately 90 types of flowers depicted in the 'Hyakka Hyakusai-zu Byobu' are planted in this garden, with around 70 varieties represented.