View Point

The classic style of this building derives from the style used for the homes of the English aristocracy that used bricks covered with slate. The outer walls are made from reddish stone, Shin-Komatsu-ishi (andesite) obtained from the Manazuru area of Izu. When this stone becomes wet from rainwater, the color changes to a very subdued tone.

Roses have been planted in the manner of a terraced garden and are in full bloom in the spring and fall. This garden helps to set off the appearance of the Western-style residence and create the atmosphere of a foreign country. Banksia roses cover the walls. They are a symbol closely associated with Mako, the daughter of Prince Akishi-no-no-miya (the younger brother of the Crown Prince, Hiro-no-miya).

The center of the Japanese garden is the pond that was created in the shape of the Japanese pictograph for "heart." Thus, the edges of the pond inscribe the graceful curves of the written character. Around the pond are located a high waterfall (over 10 meters), a dry waterfall created using stones, and a snow-viewing stone lantern that helps to embellish the visual effect of the entire garden.

This dry waterfall, which incorporates stones to create an image of flowing water, is part of the traditional Japanese garden design tradition of using rocks to enable visual effects of hills and water. To the rear of the indented edge of the pond there is a miniature river gorge that was constructed using Mikage-ishi, Ao-ishi and Gorota-ishi.

The large waterfall is more than 10m in height and originates on top of the steepest point in the garden, the upper part of which was further built up to make it higher. The front of the slope was dug away to make a cliff and the slope is covered with trees to create an illusion of a river gorge in the deep mountains. The flow curves and divides into smaller, lower level flows before dropping into a chasm.

The pond was designed in the shape of the Japanese character for "heart." This pond was made using Kurama-Hira-ishi and Iyo-ao-ishi. The points from which the pond can be seen best include, in the front, the "funatsuki-ishi" (boat-landing stone), the "araiso" (rugged shallows), the snow-viewing stone lantern, the dry waterfall in front and also from the hill in the rear of the pond.