- Take a look at the 7 Banquet rooms, all of which inspire the worlds of novels and movies.
- The only wooden structure in Gajoen is this 100-stair staircase.
- Let’s visit with a tour or an event!
- Map
Take a look at the 7 Banquet rooms, all of which inspire the worlds of novels and movies.
Contrary to the gorgeous and colorful temples in other Asian countries, Japanese temples and shrines tend to be very simple and represent the transient and imperfect aesthetics of wabi-sabi. However, Gajoen is different. Gajoen displays extravagant interiors with beautiful designs on the ceilings, floors, and windows. 4 of the 7 banquet rooms are designated as tangible cultural assests in Tokyo, which were inspiration for a novel by Osamu Dazai, and the movie, “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki.
The only wooden structure in Gajoen is this 100-stair staircase.
The 7 rooms are made of 5cm thick zelkova wood, all connected by this staircase. If you go up the stairs, there are 7 different types of rooms that will enchant you with their shiny interiors. By the way, the staircase only has 99 steps, even though it says 100 in its title.
Why, do you ask? According to the Chinese, 100 means “the end”, but 99 means “forever”, so the staircase represents hope to continue forever. It brings a wondrous imagination to us.
Let’s visit with a tour or an event!
There is a English tour guide with meal（Until September, 2015） and also some events such as The world of handicrafts @ Hyakudan kaidan (Japanese text only) at Meguro Gajoen. Personally, I recommend Hyakudan Hina Matsuri Festival on January 22nd, 2016. Beautiful Hina dolls selected from all over Japan will be on display! Please check their website and visit if you are in the area!
Map
1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0064
