The former residence site of 4 time Prime Minister, Hirofumi ITO
Hirofumi ITO (1841-1909), born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, became Japan's first Prime Minister at the age of 44, and was the youngest Prime Minister of all time.
He served as Prime Minister four times: as the first, fifth, seventh and tenth Prime Minister.
This is the site of the former residence of ITO.
When it was first built in 1896, the residence was divided into Japanese and Western buildings.
The Japanese-style building was used as ITO's personal living quarters, while the Western-style building was used as his sitting room, study and drawing room.
After ITO's death, it was given to the Lee WANG family, who had a close family relationship with the ITO family.
The Lee WANG family rebuilt the building in 1926 after the original building from ITO's time was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake.
The wooden building has a symmetric exterior with both Western and Japanese-style rooms.
From 1954 to 2007, the building was used as an annex to the Oiso Prince Hotel.
The garden features an old lantern and pine tree planted in ITO’s time called Tagyosho.
In November 2008, it was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property by the town of Oiso.
