Identifying the background of building summer villas at Chuzenji in 1896 through a German family's records

Abstract

In the late nineteenth century international tourism in Japan was a means of building a favourable relationship between the western powers. This study analyzed the data written in the letters (diaries, sketches) shared among German family members in 1896. The records and the description clarified the existence of the previously unknown villa of a German diplomat Karl-Georg von Treutler. Thus, the unique spatial characteristics of Chuzenji area was identified during the nascent period.