文化のみち二葉館

Cultural Path Futaba Museum is a restored and relocated residence where Sadayakko Kawakami—often called Japan’s first actress—and Momosuke Fukuzawa, a remarkable entrepreneur known for his work in the electric power industry, lived together for six years from 1920 to 1926. The distinctive orange-tiled roof comes into view after about a 10-minute walk from Takaoka Station on the subway. The design was handled by the innovative housing company "Amerikaya," known for introducing the two-by-four building technique from the United States to Japan. Blending Western-style decoration with both Western and Japanese rooms, the residence is an elegant Japanese-Western fusion. With a vast site of over 2,000 tsubo and lavish details throughout, it was so splendid that it was once called the "Futaba Palace." Especially eye-catching are the stained-glass works created based on original designs by Hisui Sugiura, a pioneer of Japanese advertising design. In the grand hall used for receiving guests, a piece titled "Early Summer" features a beautiful design of waterside flowers in bloom and water birds. Inside, you’ll find furniture used by the couple and Sadayakko’s kimono, along with many exhibits that evoke daily life at the time, allowing visitors to learn about the pair and experience the Taisho era up close.