The "Roadside Station Meiji no Mori Kuroiso" in Nasushiobara City is easily accessible from Tokyo.
There is a wonderful spot there where a white-walled Western-style house peeks out of the forest.
-The "Former Aoki Family's Nasu Villa" is the place to be.
This Western-style house is a villa and farm administration building built by diplomat Viscount Shuzo Aoki in the Meiji era (1868-1912) in a reclaimed area of Nasu.
It was designed by Mancho Matsugasaki, an architect with experience studying in Germany.
The German style was incorporated into the shaft and shed frames, the roof is covered with dormer windows, the exterior walls are covered with scaled slates, and there are many other design features that will excite Western-style building enthusiasts.
Inside the museum, pioneer materials from the Nasu area, as well as furniture and carriages from the villa era, are on display.
In front of the building is a flower garden called Hanna Garden, where rape blossoms appear in spring, sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in fall.
This is a photo spot where many people take pictures with seasonal flowers against the backdrop of the white Western-style building.
The "Roadside Station Meiji no Mori Kuroiso" has a direct sales shop selling local agricultural products, a confectionary workshop, a café-restaurant, and other facilities.
Soft-serve ice cream made from 100% local raw milk and produced on the premises is also recommended.
It is a gourmet experience with local flavors and an easy place to take a break.
When you visit Nasushiobara City, enjoy the contrast of clean air, historical architecture, and flower fields.
It is truly a "stopover" spot packed with the charm of the region.
Former Aoki Family's Nasu Villa
Hours of operation
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (until 4:30 p.m. from October to March)
Closed on
March through November: 3rd Tuesday of the month (or the following day if the Tuesday is a national holiday), May 13, September 9, October 21 through 23, November 4, and November 18.
December through February: Tuesdays (or the following day if the Tuesday falls on a national holiday), December 29 through January 3, and January 19
*Closed on different days each year.
Admission fee
Adult: 200 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen
On the third Sunday of each month, "Family Day," admission is free for elementary and junior high school students.
z For details, please refer to the "Nasushiobara City" website, Lifelong Learning Division, Former Aoki Family Nasu Villa page.
0Source: Nasushiobara City Board of Education
Roadside Station Meiji no Mori Kuroiso
Business hours
Summer (March-November) 8:30-17:00
Winter (December to February) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Holiday]January 1
Once a month from March to November (3rd Tuesday) *Open all August
December - February Once a week (every Tuesday)
(The schedule may change if a regular holiday falls on a national holiday.
z For details, please check the "Roadside Station Meiji no Mori Kuroiso" website.
0Source: Roadside Station Meiji no Mori Kuroiso