LIVE: Inside The Japanese Royal Family’s “Old Money” Mansions

Forget everything you know about luxury mansions, because many homes in the Japanese Imperial family’s collection of residences make Buckingham Palace look like a starter house.

Japan’s imperial residences stand as living monuments where thousand-year-old traditions blend seamlessly with architectural mastery that would humble modern designers.

At the heart of Tokyo, the Imperial Palace rises from historic Edo Castle grounds as a magnificent fusion of traditional aesthetics and modern innovation.

Completed in 1968, this architectural masterpiece features massive roofs, commanding pillars, and robust beams that showcase Japanese architectural tradition at its finest.

The complex includes the Imperial Residence, ceremonial halls, and the symbolic Matsu-no-tou lightning tower – a gift from the Japanese people to their emperor.

Surrounded by moats and stone walls, yet offering public access to its East Gardens, the palace creates a peaceful oasis amid Tokyo’s urban landscape.

In Kyoto, the original Imperial Palace tells an even older story, having served as the emperor’s residence for over 500 years from 1331 to 1869.

The Shishinden (Hall for State Ceremonies) stands at its heart, where Emperors Taisho and Showa held their enthronement ceremonies under dramatically extended eaves supported by elaborate bracket systems.

Each element serves a purpose – from the symbolic cherry and tachibana orange trees in the garden to the carefully designed Seiryoden imperial living quarters.

The Akasaka Palace, built between 1899 and 1909, represents Japan’s masterful adaptation of Western architecture.

This Neo-Baroque marvel spans 15,000 square meters across three floors, featuring gardens with a pond specifically designed to reflect light into the main banquet hall.

Now serving as the State Guest House, it has hosted world leaders from President Gerald Ford to Queen Elizabeth II, earning its designation as a National Treasure in 2009.

The imperial villas offer glimpses into the royal family’s private retreats, from the Nasu Imperial Villa’s blend of traditional and modern styles to the seaside Hayama Villa where Emperor Taisho sought respite.

Perhaps most impressive is the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto, where perfectly positioned teahouses and meticulously designed gardens embody the refined aesthetics of Japanese cultural traditions.

These residences maintain traditions that predate most nations while adapting to modern needs – each garden, building, and ceremonial space telling stories of power, culture, and unparalleled architectural excellence.

They stand not merely as luxurious homes but as custodians of Japan’s imperial legacy, where every element from the placement of rocks in gardens to the angle of roof tiles carries centuries of meaning.

Today, these imperial residences continue their dual role: preserving ancient traditions while serving as functional spaces for the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy.

forget everything you know about luxury mansions because many homes in the Japanese Imperial family’s collection of residences make Buckingham Palace look like a starter house blending thousand-year-old traditions with architectural mastery that would humble modern designers indeed Trom hidden tea rooms that have hosted ancient ceremonies for centuries to gardens so perfect they seem painted by the gods themselves these aren’t just mansions their living museums where the world’s oldest royal dynasty maintains traditions that predate most countries in today’s episode of Old Money Mansions join us as we welcome you on a tour of Japan’s imperial residences where every pebble has purpose and even the lightning rods tell stories of power first if you’re wondering where Japan’s emperor keeps his royal slippers look no further than the heart of Tokyo where an architectural masterpiece stands as proudly as a samurai warrior in full armor you see the Tokyo Imperial Palace isn’t just any old residence it’s the epitome of nobility meets old tradition and it’s absolutely magnificent picture this a sprawling complex rising from the historic grounds of Edeto Castle where Japan’s imperial family has managed to create something rather extraordinary completed in 1968 yes relatively recent for a royal pad this palace pulls off what many architects only dream of seamlessly blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern design elements it’s like watching a master chef combine wasabi with cream cheese it shouldn’t work but somehow it does brilliantly the palace’s architectural prowess is nothing short of spectacular and those massive roofs commanding pillars and robust beams aren’t just for show they’re a masterclass in Japanese architectural tradition now let’s talk about the Matsunu shall we this lightning tower built with donations from the Japanese people stands as a symbol of the unique relationship between the imperial family and their subjects it’s rather touching actually how many monarchs can say their lightning rod was a gift from their people but this isn’t just any royal residence the complex is a carefully orchestrated symphony of buildings each playing its vital role there’s the imperial residence where the emperor and empress actually live we only assume they have a rather nice breakfast nook and the main palace used for ceremonies the Siden and its six wings including the rather grandly named Homden Rensui and Choaden form the heart of this architectural masterpiece and here’s a fascinating detail they primarily used materials sourced from within Japan talk about keeping it local and the security well they’ve certainly got that covered wide moes and thick stone walls surround the complex remnants from its days as Edo Castle it’s medieval meets modern and it works brilliantly but they’re not completely shutting out the commoners the East Gardens part of the former castle’s grounds are open to the public how democratic the palace isn’t just about looking pretty though it’s the beating heart of Japan’s ceremonial life important state functions royal ceremonies and the famous New Year’s greeting all happen here it’s where foreign ambassadors present their credentials and where the emperor performs ancient Shinto rituals throughout the year in essence it’s where tradition meets duty in the most elegant way possible perhaps most remarkably this palace manages to create a peaceful oasis in the midst of Tokyo’s concrete jungle surrounded by modern skyscrapers it stands as a tranquil reminder of Japan’s rich heritage a place where time seems to stand still even as the world rushes by at bullet train speed it’s not just preserving the past it’s bridging it with the present ensuring that the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy remains relevant in our fast-paced modern world if Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is Japan’s crown jewel then the Kyoto Imperial Palace is its vintage diamond the one with the really good stories for over 500 years from 1331 until 1869 this was where Japan’s emperors woke up every morning presumably wondering what divine matters needed attending to that day that is until the Maji restoration came along and everyone packed their royal belongings for Tokyo the medieval equivalent of moving from a classic mansion to a sleek penthouse but oh what a mansion it is nestled within the sprawling Kyoto Imperial Park this architectural masterpiece is what happens when you blend Han period sophistication with Chinese Tang Dynasty flare it’s like having a heritage listed fusion restaurant only instead of food you’re serving up centuries of imperial history at the heart of this grand complex stands the shishinden or hall for state ceremonies and believe me they didn’t do things by halves here this is where emperors Taiisho and Shawa had their enthronement ceremonies making it essentially Japan’s original coronation cathedral the architecture is a sight to behold with a gabled and hipped roof whose eaves extend so far beyond the walls they needed something called Tokyo fancy bracket systems to hold them up and let’s talk about the garden white gravel complemented by two symbolic trees a cherry tree on one side and a tachibana orange tree on the other it’s minimal it’s meaningful it’s magnificent then there’s the seerodin which served as the emperor’s actual living quarters designed in the Shinden Zukuri style it’s all about symmetry and space think of it as the medieval Japanese version of Fingue but with imperial authority add to that the Kogasho or courtroom Ogakumanjo the imperial study and various residences for the empress and high-ranking officials and you’ve got yourself a proper royal compound the gates alone tell a story the Ken Ryman with its understated cypress wood roof and unpainted wooden pillars welcomed foreign dignitaries though one imagines they were too busy being aruck to notice they were walking through the diplomatic entrance the inner Jimon gate painted in bold vermillion and topped with tiles leads to the shashinden a literal gateway to power life here wasn’t all about architecture and aesthetics though the palace was a hub of ritual and ceremony where the emperor himself performed the grand service delivering imperial proclamations and praying for the nation’s peace and prosperity these weren’t your average prayer meetings these ceremonies known as Kuchu saishi were the spiritual backbone of imperial authority even after Tokyo became the new imperial headquarters Kyoto’s palace kept its ceremonial street cred the Coyoto Imperial Palace Tea Party became the hot ticket for state guests and nobles while the Oenua and Gonate Gardens with their perfectly placed ponds and bridges continued to showcase what Han period landscape designers could do with water and stone today it stands as both a living museum and a masterclass in Japanese imperial architecture it’s where ancient court life meets modern tourism where every building garden and gate tells a story of power tradition and impeccable taste not bad for a royal handme-down wouldn’t you [Music] say if the Tokyo and Kyoto Imperial Palaces are Japan’s traditional treasures then the Akasaka Palace is its grand experiment in architectural fusion and what a gloriously successful experiment it turned out to be built between 1899 and 1909 this magnificent structure proves that when Japan decides to go western it doesn’t just dip its toe in the water it dives in with perfect form under the watchful eye of Dr tokoma Katayyama who learned his craft from British architect Josiah Cond no less this neoaro masterpiece emerged as Japan’s answer to Buckingham Palace though between you and me some might say they’ve outdone their inspiration picture 15,000 m of reinforced brick and stone spread across three floors one below ground for those who like to count all executed with the kind of precision that would make a Swiss watchmaker jealous originally designed as the crown prince’s residence or Togos if you’re feeling fancy this palace proved to be more than just a pretty facade it became a genuine lifesaver for Crown Prince Hirohito later emperor Shawa and Princess Nouko Kuninomia when the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 decided to remodel their intended residence and not in a good way the royal couple called this place home until 1928 even welcoming their first two daughters here including Princess Sheeko talk about making the best of an unfortunate situation the estate itself is nothing to sneeze at 120,000 square meters of prime Tokyo real estate featuring gardens that would make any landscape architect weep with joy the Pista Resistance is a pond specifically designed to reflect light into the main banquet room now that’s what I call natural lighting with a royal twist but like any good drama the palace’s story took an unexpected turn after World War II from royal residence to government asset it played host to various tenants including the National Diet Library then came the grand makeover of 1968 to 1974 led by the dynamic duo of Togo Morano and Yoshiro Taniguchi transforming this imperial gem into what we now know as the state guest house and what a guest house it is we’re talking about the kind of place that’s hosted everyone from US President Gerald Ford to our Queen Elizabeth II not to mention being the swanky venue for G7 summit meetings it’s where East meets West in the most diplomatic way possible serving as Japan’s architectural ambassador to the world in 2009 exactly a century after its completion the palace received the ultimate seal of approval designation as a national treasure of Japan not bad for a building that started life as an architectural experiment today it stands as a testament to Japan’s remarkable ability to take foreign influences and transform them into something uniquely Japanese the Akasaka Palace isn’t just a building it’s a symbol of Japan’s journey from isolation to international power player all wrapped up in neoaro splendor with a distinctly Japanese twist in the grand theater of diplomatic relations this palace plays its role to perfection proving that sometimes the best way to bridge cultures is with a healthy dose of architectural brilliance when you’re running the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy even emperors need a place to kick off their imperial sandals and relax enter Japan’s collection of imperial villas the royal equivalent of holiday homes only with significantly better gardens and a dash more historical significance than your average weekend getaway let’s start with the Nasu Imperial Villa completed in 1926 with a fashionably late edition in 1935 nestled in Toigi Prefecture like a precious stone in a perfect setting this summer retreat proves that Emperor Showa had impeccable taste in vacation spots the architects managed to pull off something rather clever here blending traditional Japanese style with modern influences in a way that makes you wonder why anyone builds any other way the imperial family typically graces this pastoral paradise during August and September presumably when Tokyo’s summer heat becomes a bit too much for even divine beings to bear in a rather magnanimous gesture 2008 saw approximately 560 hectares of the villa’s grounds transformed into the Nasu Nomorei forest and open to the public it’s like having your neighbor invite you to enjoy their garden except your neighbor happens to be the emperor of Japan talk about keeping up with the Joneses then there’s the Hayama Imperial Villa in Kanagawa Prefecture acquired in 1894 think of it as the royal family’s seaside escape emperor Taiisho was particularly fond of this one using it as a retreat from both his illnesses and the pressures of imperial duties sadly it was here that he bid farewell to the mortal realm in December 1926 his son Emperor Showa clearly inherited his father’s appreciation for the place but added his own scholarly twist establishing a marine biology laboratory on the grounds because why simply admire the sea when you can study it the villa’s story took a rather dramatic turn in 1971 when it fell victim to arson but like any good phoenix it rose from the ashes in 1981 as a one-story structure with western architectural influences think of it as Japan’s architectural history of modernization told in brick and mortar but if you really want to see Japanese imperial architecture showing off look no further than the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto this isn’t just a building it’s a masterclass in Japanese design philosophy the complex features several tea houses each positioned with the kind of precision that would make a Swiss watch maker envious offering views that change with every step these aren’t your average garden sheds they’re architectural poems written in wooden paper each embodying the refined aesthetics of the tea ceremony the gardens of Katsura deserve their own round of applause centered around a pond that would make any water feature look positively pedestrian they feature winding pathways and strategically placed rocks and plants that create what can only be described as nature’s perfect theater this is Wabishabi philosophy and action finding beauty and simplicity and the natural flow of life a concept that apparently resonates quite well with imperial sensibilities each of these villas serves as more than just a luxury retreat they’re living museums where imperial traditions are preserved and nature is revered they represent the delicate balance between the imperial family’s private life and their public role as guardians of Japanese culture after all even those tasked with preserving centuries of tradition need somewhere to contemplate their heritage preferably somewhere with an excellent view and impeccable gardens and now we’d love to see you in the comments which of our these royal residences is your favorite we can’t wait to hear your thoughts and thanks for joining us for another episode of Old Money Mansions cheers until next time