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 owner 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-zukuri was completed in 1945. There was a mysterious backyard with famous stones and a lawn plaza. 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

Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (the Wakan closes at 4:00 pm)

Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday)
December 29-January 3
Wakan
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if the Monday is a holiday)
December 28-January 4
Yokan
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on holidays)
December 29-January 3

Park Rules and Regulations

  1. Do not mark, damage, or destroy any park facilities or properties.
  2. Do not remove or damage plants and animals.
  3. Giving speeches, advertising, or making announcements on park grounds is prohibited.
  4. Do not sell any goods or services. Street stalls and peddling are prohibited.
  5. Do not set up any structures or reside on park grounds.
  6. Do not enter restricted areas.
  7. Do not bring or ride bicycles and motorcycles in the park.
  8. Please do not bring dogs and other pets into the park.
  9. Do not litter.
  10. Smoking is prohibited everywhere in the park.
  11. The use of fire, such as bonfires, fireworks, and barbecues, is strictly prohibited.
  12. Do not play ball games such as baseball or soccer. Do not disturb or interfere with other park users and/or local residents.
  13. Pease note that the park closes at 4:30 pm.
    Permission is required from the park manager (Meguro City mayor) beforehand to engage in the following actions on park grounds.
    *Fundraising or similar acts.
    *Taking photographs and videos (movies) for business purposes.
    *Exclusive use of all or parts of the park for local activities and events.

How to use the former Maeda family main residence (Komaba Park) audio guide

There are 18 commentary points shown in the figure below in the park and in the Japanese-style building, and 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

Japanese-style building 1st floor plan

Japanese-style building 2nd floor plan

Introduction of each information place