Shiraishi Wataro Yokan

An allegedly English-style building in Yawatahama

Anonymous Feb 13, 2013 - 1 min read

The facade of the Shiraishi Wataro Yokan. The building was built in the 1890s as a place where foreign specialists would feel at home.

A closeup view of the elaborate portico.

The light in the lobby has an international atmosphere, although Europeans might feel that their portion of the world looks a bit small.

The interior features an Ionic column motif.

The guide showed me some photos of the building as it was early last century. The iron railings were cannibalized for armaments.

In the latter half of the last century, the building was a dressmaking school. Various artifacts are on display.

The whole building was heated by this fireplace. A gap was left above the doorway on the stairs to let the heat rise.

The windows upstairs and down have different pillars and pediments.

A selection of plasterwork details found throughout the building.

The staircase is twisting and very compact.

In the Meiji period, Yawatahama welcomed many European engineers and other experts as advisers, and the Shiraishi Watarō Yōkan, a guesthouse in a supposedly English style where they were entertained, still exists in a street of historic buildings in Honai. Press the button on the intercom, and Mr. Yano will shortly appear to give you a fascinating guided tour (in Japanese).

Anonymous @rod.walters__archived

I was born in Bristol, England, and I came to Japan in 1991 … which means I’ve lived half my life in this island nation on the other side of the world. The theme of my career in Japan has been communication. I started as an English teacher, and moved into translation as I learned Japanese....