An exquisite balance between East and West—the Italian Embassy’s lakeside former villa
Lake Chuzenji sits amidst the majestic beauty of surrounding mountains. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the shores of the lake were a popular resort area for foreign diplomats and dignitaries. With its many luxurious villas, the Chuzenji of that era was a bustling, exclusive town frequented by celebrities and other prominent figures. One of the villas still standing today is the former Italian Embassy villa, built in 1928 and owned by the Italian government until 1997. Designed by American architect Anthony Raymond, the structure achieves an exquisite harmony between Japan’s natural beauty and Western architecture. Features such as outside walls with a checkerboard pattern of cedar bark and finished wood and interior paneling that highlights the wood’s natural grain are bold yet somehow soothing at the same time. Today, the villa is preserved as part of the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park, and its living room, study, and other rooms are open to the public.
On the shores of Lake Chuzenji, enjoy French cuisine made with local ingredients
With a long history as a summer resort area for foreign dignitaries, the Lake Chuzenji area also has a long history of French cuisine. Some restaurants even offer French dishes made with locally grown ingredients, handmade bread, and even wine made from local grapes. A truly special gastronomic delight is trout meunière made with rainbow trout or silver trout caught in Lake Chuzenji. The meunière sauce wonderfully complements the light flavor of the whitefish meat, with delicious results. The many other local delicacies available here include dishes made with Nikko’s famous yuba (tofu skin) and steaks and stew made from Tochigi Prefecture’s renowned wagyu (Kobe-style beef). For a real treat, enjoy luxurious French dinners while staying at the Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel or the Nikko Lakeside Hotel, two of the area’s most famous and established resorts.