Sugimura Sojinkan Memorial Museum

Lovely historical villa, tea house, gardens

Abiko City has a few historic houses open to the public, and this one is charming. Sugimura Sojinkan, a journalist with an international outlook, retired to this villa in the Showa Period. The architecture is a blend of Japanese traditional tea house and western-style summer house. The estate is built on the bluff above Teganuma Marsh, and though it has no view of the water now, it's still a lovely spot with flowers under shady trees. The main house preserves the atmosphere of the Sugimura villa with the library full of books. The garden and house are frequently used for art exhibitions. On my visit, metal sculptures were on display in the garden. Abiko City's Information Center has walking maps of the city. This is a highlight on your way from the center of the town to the marsh.