Suwa no Chaya Teahouse, Tokyo

The elegant Japanese teahouse Suwa no Chaya is rich in history. Its name is derived from the nearby small shrine dedicated to the Shinto deity Suwa.

Originally, during the Edo period, the teahouse was placed in the Fukiage Garden, the area on the west side of the Nishinomaru where the current Imperial Palace is located.

After the original structure was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt during the reign of the 11th shogun Tokugawa Ienari, between 1787 and 1837. The Suwa Teahouse underwent another reconstruction in 1901 and then was ultimately rebuilt into its present form, in 1912, by order of Emperor Meiji.

In 1968, the teahouse was relocated to the Ninomaru Garden to enhance the elegance of the newly opened East Gardens when they became accessible to the public.

The grove adjacent to the teahouse was created from 1982 to 1985, following the wish of Emperor Showa to preserve nature that was disappearing. This grove adds to the serene ambiance of the area.

Although the building itself is no longer a functional tea room, it stands as a testament to Meiji-era Japanese architecture.