Akasaka is a district in Tokyo that has cultivated a culture symbolized by embassies and high-class eateries. While it currently has such an image as the “city of business,” where major corporate headquarters are gathered, you can feel the history of the city in the core hamlet of “Karyukai,” located in the small circle of the shopping streets around Akasaka Station where rows of food shops are lined up. In the Edo era, samurai residences and machiya spread, and around the former Akasaka where the samurai residence were, there are embassies and guest houses of great note. You soon know that there is something special about this area.

This tour gathers at JR Yotsuya station and firstly visits a prominent guest house. In 1909, this guest house (a bit of a misnomer – it should be thought of as more of a palatial hotel) was the first Western style grand building in Japan, built by the then crown prince, later the Taisho Emperor, with stylistic reference to France’s Versailles. Total construction cost was the equivalent to over 100 billion yen in today’s money. Construction took about ten years, and it used the latest in building chic and decoration technology. It is now used as a facility to host state guests such as foreign kings or presidents, and it is also used as a stage for summit talks and dinner parties.

After visiting the guesthouse, we walk for about fifteen minutes and visit the Toyokawa Inari Shrine Tokyo House. Ooka Echizennokami, who was an Edo town donor in the 18th century, has been deemed to have dedicated Echizennokami it from his house in Toyokawa Inari of Aichi Prefecture as a shrine to the residence. Since the latter half of the 19th century, Akasaka has been the gathering place of restaurants and also, as geisha gathered here in the “Karyukai,” inflows of people who live with artists increased. Even now the area is known as a popular area among prominent celebrities and famous athletes.

Next, you will visit Aoyama Square, which displays and sells selected traditional craft items from all over Japan. A wide range of treasures and handicrafts are available, all made using the finest techniques that will allow for enjoyment 100 years or more. The shop invites craftsmen from all over the world to hold workshops from time to time, so you can also often see these artisans at work first-hand.

At the end, you will enjoy a delicious Japanese lunch while learning about the restaurant culture in a restaurant symbolizing Akasaka. We wrap up at Akasaka Mitsuke subway station after lunch