Former Ito Den-emon Residence: A Story of Power, Love, and Art

Located in Iizuka, Fukuoka, the Former Ito Den-emon Residence is a remarkable historic estate connected to the Chikuho coal-mining industry and the lives of Den-emon Ito and his wife, Byakuren Yanagihara, a celebrated tanka poet.

Den-emon was one of the prominent coal-mine operators in Chikuho, while Byakuren became famous for both her poetry and her dramatic love story. She spent about 10 years at this residence. Expanded and renovated from 1906 through the early Showa period, the estate combines Japanese and Western architectural styles and is now designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Exquisite Architectural Design

Covering approximately 7,570 square meters, the estate includes the main residence, a nagaya-mon gate, storehouses, an office, and other buildings. Shoin-style, Sukiya-style, and Western designs are skillfully combined throughout the complex.

The residence also features distinctive decorative details, including an Art Nouveau-style mantelpiece, diamond-patterned stained glass made in England, and a long corridor lined with one-tatami-mat sections. The rooms prepared for Byakuren reflect the refined craftsmanship and luxurious character of the estate.

Byakuren Yanagihara and a Famous Love Story

The marriage between Den-emon and Byakuren attracted considerable attention, partly because of their different backgrounds and 25-year age difference.

After about 10 years of marriage, Byakuren fell in love with Ryusuke Miyazaki, a journalist seven years younger than she was. In 1921, she publicly announced her separation from Den-emon in what became known as her “public letter of separation,” causing a major sensation at the time.

Byakuren never returned to the residence after leaving. Today, visitors can explore the spaces connected to this famous story while learning about the people behind it.

A National Place of Scenic Beauty

The residence is surrounded by a spacious strolling garden designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2011. Its main garden features ponds, a stream, artificial hills, stone bridges, stone lanterns, and a thatched-roof pavilion, with carefully arranged views from the main residence.

The garden is also valued as an important example of a modern strolling garden associated with a coal-mine operator’s residence in the Chikuho region.

Discover the History of Chikuho

The Former Ito Den-emon Residence brings together architecture, gardens, industrial history, and the personal story of Den-emon Ito and Byakuren Yanagihara.

A visit here offers a fascinating glimpse into the wealth and culture of the Chikuho coal-mining era, as well as the dramatic human story that unfolded within this historic estate.

Address: 300 Kobukuro, Iizuka City, Fukuoka 820-0066, Japan