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HistorHistory

Chourakukan was called the "King of Tobacco" in 1909.
By Kichibei Murai, a businessman
For entertaining distinguished guests at home and abroad
It was built as a guest house.

More than 100 years have passed since then.

Hirobumi Ito, Shigenobu Okuma and Aritomo Yamagata,
The people who colored the Meiji era and others,
How many guests have we welcomed so far?

In 1986, it included not only the building but also many furniture and furnishings,
The building has been designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Kyoto City.

When guests have tea at Chorakukan,
Or when dining at a restaurant,
The table may be a designated cultural asset.
That chair was once used by Saionji Kinmochi to smolder his cigarettes.
It may be.

A guest house for entertaining distinguished guests."

June 2019 marks the 110th anniversary of the completion of Choraku-kan.
we remain committed to offering our guests a "long-lasting enjoyment" consistent with the
meaning of its name.

  • 京都圓山　長樂館　村井別邸

    Kyoto Enzan Chourakukan Murai Villa

  • 長楽館表門（竣工当時）

    Chourakukan front gate (at the time of completion)

  • 長楽館表門（現在）

    Chourakukan front gate (present)

  • 公爵伊藤博文題 扁額

    Tatami-matted plaque with the title "Hirobumi Ito, Duke of Tokyo

  • 公爵伊藤博文題 扁額（現在）

    Tatami-matted plaque with the title "Duke Hirobumi Ito" (present)

HistorHistory Chronological Table of Japanese History

1891

Kichibe Murai introduces Japan's first double-cut paper cigarette, "SUNRISE".

The first House of Representatives election is held.
The first Imperial Congress is held.
The Imperial Rescript on Education is promulgated.

1894

Kichibe Murai introduces "HERO," a double-cut paper cigarette.
It became a blockbuster brand due in part to its unique advertising effect.

The Sino-Japanese War occurs (~1895). Mutsu Munemitsu successfully eliminated extraterritorial jurisdiction.

1900

"Hero" won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition. It was a cigarette that set the world's standard.

The Security Police Law is issued. Crackdown on social and labor movements. Socialists such as Koutoku Akisui were strictly punished.

1904

Construction begins on Chorakukan as a villa for Kichibei Murai.
Designed and directed by American engineer J.M. Gardiner
Mannosuke Shimizu (building tag)

Interior decoration: Tokyo Sugita Shoten, Kyoto Kawase Shoten
Kichihei Murai establishes Murai Bank.

Kichibei Murai

The Russo-Japanese War begins (~1905).

1905

Chourakukan, construction temporarily halted due to the war (Russo-Japanese War).

The Treaty of Portsmouth is signed.
Soseki Natsume's "I am a Cat"
presented.

1907

Chourakukan, building was completed in June.
The building, with three floors above ground and one below, is nearing completion.
Kihei Murai established Teikoku Silk Mill in the same year.

March 29: Natsume Soseki's Diary Appears in Chorakukan Construction in Progress
(The Complete Works of Soseki, Vol. 13).

The Franco-Japanese and Russo-Japanese treaties are concluded.

1908

Takagi Haisui
Commissioned a mural for Chorakukan (mural in the Guest Room on the first floor).

Takagi Haisui

The U.S.-Japan Gentlemen's Agreement is signed.

1909

Chourakukan, completed in May.
Hirobumi Ito wrote "Chorakukan" on the flat plaque.

May 25-27: Ito Hirobumi, the Korean Supervisor, and Katsura Kogoro (Kido Takayoshi)
Entered and stayed in Kyoto to visit the tomb.

Kaoru Inoue, Noboru Watanabe, and Magoshichiro Sugi on the 27th,
The president of Kyoto University, Kikuchi Oroku, and others were invited to the banquet.

June 11: Former U.S. Vice President Fairbanks stays with us

October 7: "Gakai" was held.
Saionji Kimochi, Sumitomo Kichizaemon, and Suzuki Shohei were the main customers.

Hirobumi Ito

The Kokugikan (Japanese performing arts hall) is opened in Ryogoku, Tokyo.

1909

October: Baron Ryuichi Kuki stayed with us.

Saionji Koumou era (1257.3.14-1259.3.26)

Kikuchi-Oroku

Kaoru Inoue

Hirobumi Ito in Harbin, Manchuria,
Assassinated by a young man from Korea.

1910

April 26th: Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Tao and Prince Puyong of the Qing Dynasty stayed at the hotel
May: Shigenobu Okuma and his wife, Sanae Takata stayed with us.

Shigenobu Okuma

Korea is annexed.
Ishikawa Takuboku published "A Handful of Sand".

1914

Chourakukan 3rd floor Japanese-style room remodeling
Exterior Gardiner, interior Oshima waxing stock design
Shimizugumi Kyoto Sub-branch construction

World War I broke out,
Japan also participated.

1915

November: On the occasion of the Emperor Taisho's Grand Ceremony,
Nicholas Malevski-Malewich, Ambassador of the Russian State Correspondent,
Mr. and Mrs. Guiccioli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy, stayed with us.

James McDonald.
Gardiner.

He issued 21 articles of demand to China,
Reaching out to Manchuria.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa wrote "Rashomon".

1916

January 1: Mrs. Unoko died.

January 23-26, His Imperial Highness Prince Georgy Mikhailovich, Grand Duke of Russia, Visited Japan
March 22.Her Imperial Highness Princess Chieko of Kanyinomiya and Her Imperial Highness Princess Hiroko and Princess Hanako of Haruninomiya
3His Imperial Highness' stay
October 22: His Royal Highness King Lee and Dr. Bede visited the palace

Unoko Murai

1916

Remarried to Kaoruko (Yamachahana bureau), sister of Viscount Hinonishi Shihiro

June 13: Her Imperial Highness the Grand Princess Kayo, His Imperial Highness Prince Taka Kuni, and Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Princesses of the Imperial Family visited the Imperial Palace.
June 14: Duke Murakumo visited the temple

The Soviet regime is established in Russia.

1918

July 1: British envoy, H.E. Mr. Connaught, stayed at the hotel.

Rice riots occur in Toyama.
The Hara Takashi Cabinet is formed.

1925

Chourakukan, facilities, etc. were partially renovated.

Kichibei Murai's main residence "Sanno-sou" was completed in Akasaka Sannodai, Tokyo (designed by Goichi Takeda)

Goichi Takeda

The Paris Peace Conference opens.

1920

May 7: Mr. and Mrs. Vanderlip, a British banker, and their daughter stayed with us.

June 20: Crown Prince Karol Kalayman of Romania stayed with us.

Joined the League of Nations and became a permanent member.
A postwar economic depression occurs.
The first May Day will be held.

1922

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, visited us on the occasion of his state visited to Japan.

Edward VIII

1925 Taisho 14

Mr. Rockefeller of the U.S.A. visited and stayed at the hotel.

John Davison.
Rockefeller Sr.

The Regular Election Law is passed.
The Security Law is established.
The radio broadcast begins.

1927

Chourakukan has been sold. Murai Bank has closed.

1928

The main residence has been moved from Tokyo as "Daishoin" of Hieizan Enryakuji Temple.

1954

Tomizo Dote purchases the land and building of Chorakukan.
(Company name at the time of establishment = Hotel Chorakukan Co.

1965

Construction and opening of a ladies hotel/restaurant on land adjacent to Chourakukan.

Restoration of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea.
Shinichiro Asanaga was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

1968

Opened a coffee shop in the main building.

1986

Chourakukan, registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Kyoto City.
Together with many furnishings, it was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Kyoto City.

2008

Renewal of the hotel building. French restaurant "Le Chene" opens in the main building and banquet room "Coral" opens in the new building.

A mural of 650 pigeons, "LOVE DOVES," was painted on the ceiling of the Coral by Hideki Kimura.

The G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit is held.
The Aso Cabinet is formed.

2009

Chourakukan celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Darling Peacock," a mural of five peacocks, was painted on the first floor of the hotel building by Hideki Kimura.

The jury system begins.
The DPJ won a landslide victory in the general election for the House of Representatives.

2011

A piano (Beisendorfer 1955) was installed in the lobby of the main building.

The Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake occurs.

2012

Gardener Yasuo Kitayama created a terrace on the south side of Coral.

Tokyo Sky Tree opens.

2013

Recognized by Kyoto City as "Buildings and Gardens that Adorn Kyoto.

Himalayan cedar and Bunya pine were recognized as "Trees of Pride of the City Residents" in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.

2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
The venue is decided to be Tokyo.

2016

Renewal of Chourakukan.
Chourakukan Cafe was redesigned to become Dessert Cafe Chourakukan.
Chorakukan Boutique" and "Library Bar Madeira" opened.

Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro.

2019
2022

Chourakukan 110th anniversary

The Emperor is replaced, and the name of the era is changed to "2025.