Kaitokaku

In the heart of Tokyo, Kaitokaku stands as a testament to a bygone era. This magnificent guest house whispers tales of Mitsubishi’s rich history and the vision of Yanosuke Iwasaki, the company’s second president. Kaitokaku, originally the Takanawa estate of statesman Hirobumi Ito, was purchased by Yanosuke. He transformed it into a symbol of Mitsubishi’s growing influence. In 1903, he moved his family’s Japanese-style residence to the hilltop estate. He then commissioned the British architect Josiah Conder to design a two-story western-style brick building. The family moved into this grand new residence in 1907. Sadly, Yanosuke’s time there was short-lived. He fell ill shortly after and passed away in 1908. Kaitokaku then became a place to receive guests of the Iwasaki family and Mitsubishi. The name Kaitokaku, meaning “a house for returning to the east,” was given by Koyata Iwasaki, the fourth president, when the property was transferred to Mitsubishi in 1938. Though the interior suffered fire damage during World War II, the building itself survived. It was later restored in 1964 as the guest house of the Mitsubishi group, a role it continues to fulfill today. Kaitokaku has seen several remodelings since then. Now it serves as a luxurious venue for welcoming distinguished guests, a lasting tribute to Yanosuke Iwasaki’s vision and Mitsubishi’s enduring legacy. It stands as a tangible link to Japan’s modernization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.