A Building with International Charm Kyu-Goryo-Tei is also known as the Taiwan Pavilion. The building was a gift from Japanese people in Taiwan, a region that was then a part of the Japanese empire. The building was given to commemorate the 1924 wedding of Crown Prince Hirohito (1901–1989), who became emperor in 1926. Construction began in 1927.
The Relaxation Room of the Taiwan Pavilion is a large, open space with a panoramic view of the Japanese Garden beyond. Newspapers of the time referred to it as “A relaxing place above a tranquil pond… An ideal location to enjoy the cool breezes of a summer stroll.”
This building is a rare example of authentic Chinese-style architecture in Japan, and it is highly prized for the color and shape of the roof, the style of the windows, the interior design, and other features. The architectural style is called Binnan, from China’s southern Fujian Province, and was popular in Taiwan from the early nineteenth century.
The inversion of the eaves and the stucco swallowtail structure, the color of the roof tiles, the shape of the supports for the pillars, and the decorative stones of the porte-cochère, as well as the ornamental interior design, are all typical features of the Binnan style. Many of the construction materials were brought from Taiwan. Taiwan cedars were used for the pillars, and Taiwan cypress was used in the ceiling panels.
The building was opened to the public in the 1940s.