From the mid-Meiji period through the early Showa period, many foreign villas, including those belonging to various embassies, were built along the shores of Lake Chuzenji, and the area flourished as an international summer resort. In particular, the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park is a spot in Nikko City where visitors can experience the rich natural surroundings of Lake Chuzenji, the history of this international summer resort, and British culture. The building within the park is a restoration of the private villa built in 1896 by British diplomat Ernest Satow, returning it to its original appearance from the time it was used as the British Embassy Villa. Inside the villa, exhibits introduce the life of Satow, who was active from the late Edo period through the Meiji era, as well as the history of Oku-Nikko, a region he loved, and Lake Chuzenji, which developed into an international summer resort. Another highlight is the exhibition where you can learn about Victorian-era British culture and the Arts and Crafts Movement. From the wide veranda on the second floor, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Chuzenji, which Satow praised as a “picture-perfect landscape.” The park is open from April through November, and with a combined admission ticket, you can also visit the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park. Why not visit this special space where the nature and history of Okunikko harmonize with British culture?

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