From the mid Meiji to the early Showa periods, the area around Lake Chuzenji was home to foreign embassies and villas and flourished as summer resorts. The villa was built as a summer house for the Italian ambassador in 1928 and used by successive ambassadors until 1997. Along with the main building reconstructed with the original floor, fittings and furniture, the cottage is now open to the public as a history museum of the local international summer resorts. In addition to the buildings, the park pleases the eye with a lovely view of Lake Chuzenji.   The villa was designed by Czech architect Antonin Raymond (1888-1976). Raymond moved to the United States when he was 22 years old where he took up architecture. His first visit to Japan was during the New Year’s period in 1919-20 to work on the project of the Imperial Hotel with his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright. Raymond was advised by local craftsmen on traditional architectural materials. He made a good use of the local Nikko cedar on the walls and his chequered design creates a beautifully modern exterior to the two-storey wooden villa. The whole ceiling of the ground floor was made with cedar bark by wickerwork, a popular technique in the traditional Japanese Sukiya style of architecture. The space of the living room and study is skilfully divided by wickerwork patterns.

After 120 years, the former British Embassy Villa opened its doors to the public as the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park on 1 July 2016. Ernest Satow, a British diplomat who contributed to Japan’s Meiji Restoration, built a private villa at the south bank of Lake Chuzenji in 1896. He loved Oku-Nikko, especially Lake Chuzenji as the area reminded him of the natural landscape of his home country. The villa was used as the British Embassy summer residence until 2008 before being donated to Tochigi prefecture in 2010 to be opened to the general public. In the early years of the villa, Satow’s friend Isabella Bird stayed here for a month and wrote of the impressive landscape of the villa. The British Embassy Villa Memorial Park presents exhibitions on British culture and the history of Oku-Nikko as an international summer resort. Visitors can immerse themselves in this historic setting while enjoying teatime in the villa (additional charges apply) and take in the picturesque view of Lake Chuzenji from the spacious veranda on the upper floor.

"South No. 4 Classic" café is located on the second floor of the former British Embassy Villa in the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park. From its spacious veranda, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Chuzenji while savoring scones and tea sets supervised by the British Embassy Tokyo's chef. Limited-time and quantity events are held monthly.   〈Menu〉 British Cultural Experience Mini Afternoon Tea A set featuring British Embassy Tokyo's original scones, sandwiches, and tea. Plain and nut (walnut and almond) scones are served with generous portions of locally crafted jam from Tochigi Prefecture and clotted cream. Enjoy this one-plate set of sandwiches and seasonal fruits with premium British tea.   〈About the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park〉 Originally built in 1896 as the private villa of British diplomat Ernest　Satow (1843-1929), this facility has been restored after serving as the　British Embassy villa for many years. The facility features exhibits about its history as an international summer　resort and British culture of the time. From the second-floor veranda,visitors can enjoy the "picture-perfect scenery" of Lake Chuzenji that Satow loved.

Sup! Sup! offers a unique standup paddle-boarding yoga experience and a memorable guided tour of the beautiful nature surrounding Nikko’s Lake Chuzenji. We have plans for both beginners and experienced guests! （Please make reservations via our website)

Chuzenji Temple was established by Shodo Shonin in Nikko-zan in 784. Enshrining Nikko’s oldest Buddha statue, which is six-meters tall and was carved in a standing Japanese judas tree, the temple is a prayer temple (where visitors pray to the Buddha). Juzu, or prayer beads on a string, is one of the ritual items that people use to count how many times they have read a sutra or recited Buddha’s name. According to Siddhartha Gautama, praying to the Buddha repeatedly will remove earthly desires from people and make them happy. Those who visit to pay respect to the temple can join the prayer beads craft workshop. They can choose beads of their taste, made of natural stone and/or natural wood, with a wish in their minds to create a bracelet-shaped juzu. Their juzu becomes nenju when monks offer a prayer at the gomadan (fire ritual platform), and they can take it home as a wearable lucky charm.