Nature & Scenery
Tenkyokaku
<p>Named by the Crown Prince Yoshihito upon its opening in 1907 as “The Palace of Heaven’s Mirror”, Tenkyokaku is a decadently decorated former villa.</p><p>Imperial Prince Arisugawa Takehito decided to build Tenkyokaku after being impressed by the beauty of <a href="https://fukushima.travel/destination/lake-inawashiro/5">Lake Inawashiro</a> during a visit to the Tohoku District. His family, the Arisugawa-no-miya Family, owned the villa until 1952, when it was granted to Fukushima Prefecture.</p><p>Tenkyokaku has since been used as a meeting hall and a space for lectures and exhibitions. The former villa, its annex and its front gate have been specified as important cultural properties of Japan.</p><p>Despite being restored in 1984, the building retains many of its original features, including the impressive chandelier which can be seen below.</p><p>Despite no longer being able to see Lake Inawashiro from the windows of Tenkyokaku, the luxurious renaissance-style architecture and liberal use of all things gold and glittery means that visitors will by all means feel that its name still rings true.</p><p>For only 1000 yen, you can dress up in a traditional outfit and take as many photos as you would like in the building!</p>