Former Marquis Maeda Main Residence (Komaba Park) Audio Guide

History: Komaba Park, which has the second largest area in Meguro Ward Park, is the site of the former Maeda family's Marquis Maeda Komaba residence, which was the head of Kaga Hyakumangoku (now Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures).

It used to be Hongo as its main residence, but after the Great Kanto Earthquake, it moved to Komaba by equivalent exchange with Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo).

The building is a collection of the best of both Japanese and Western architecture in the early Showa period.The Western-style building with decorative bricks and tiles was completed in 1945, and the Japanese-style building built by Shoin was completed in 1945. A mysterious backyard with famous stones and a lawn plaza were set up. It is said that the Japanese-style building was built for entertaining foreign guests because the Marquis was a military attaché in London.
This graceful mansion, which became a spectacular social gathering place, fell into the hands of private individuals after the death of Marquis Maeda during World War II and was requisitioned by the occupation forces at the end of the war.

The requisition was lifted in October 1957, and most of the site, which was once again owned by the private sector, was used as the official residence of the Allied Commander for 12 years until the government bought it.

The current park was opened by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a park in 1967, and was transferred to Meguro Ward in April 1975.

On August 7, 2013, buildings such as Western-style buildings and Japanese-style buildings and the land around the area were evaluated as having high value as expressing the life image of aristocrats in the early Showa period, and are designated as national important cultural properties. It was designated as the "former Maeda family main residence".

Information on opening hours and closed days

9:00 am to 4:30 pm (until 4:00 pm for Japanese and Western buildings)

[Closed days / closed days]
Every Monday, but if Monday is a holiday, the next day. (Western-style building is closed on Tuesdays)
December 29th-January 3rd for the year-end and New Year holidays (December 28th-January 4th for the Japanese-style building)

About cautions and prohibitions in the park

  1. Please do not stain or damage the facilities in the park.
  2. Do not collect or damage plants or animals.
  3. Please do not make speeches, advertisements or publicity.
  4. Please do not sell goods such as open-air or business.
  5. Do not install or live in a work piece.
  6. Please do not enter the restricted area.
  7. Bicycles and motorcycles are prohibited.
  8. Please do not bring pets such as dogs.
  9. Do not throw away paper scraps, trash and other filth.
  10. The park is completely non-smoking.
  11. The use of fire such as bonfires, fireworks and barbecues in the park is strictly prohibited.
  12. Please do not play baseball, soccer, etc.
    In addition, please do not disturb the morals of the park or disturb other users or neighbors.
  13. Please note that the park will close at 4:30 pm.
    The permission of the park manager (ward mayor) is required in advance to perform the following acts in the park.
    * Donation or similar.
    * Taking photos / videos (movies) for business purposes.
    * Exclusive use of all or part of the park for local events. ”

Former Marquis Maeda Main Residence (Komaba Park) How to use the audio guide

There are 18 commentary points shown in the figure below in the park and in the Japanese-style building. If you read the QR code set for each commentary point, you can enjoy detailed explanations about the location by voice.

Komaba Park park map

Floor plan of the 1st floor of the Japanese-style building

Floor plan of the 2nd floor of the Japanese-style building

Introduction of each information place

1. Former Marquis Maeda Main Residence (Komaba Park) Audio Guide

2. Main gate and fence

3. Gatehouse

4. Western-style building

5. Western-style garden gate and fence

6. Japanese-style gate and fence

7. Japanese-style building

8. Large corridor (Sugito)

9. Tea room * Not open to the public

10. Guest room (main room) and Gojinoma

11. Japanese-style garden

12. Kozashiki * Not open to the public

13. Entering side

14. Bathroom * Not open to the public

15. Corridor (stairs, Sugito) * Not open to the public

16. Living room (2nd floor) * Not open to the public

17. Tea room waiting * Not open to the public

18. Western-style corridor and Japanese-style corridor * Not open to the public


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