The Tamozawa Imperial Villa was established in Nikko in 1899 and was recreated from original materials of a residence once standing in Tokyo, Japan. Before being moved to Nikko, that very building once served as the residence of a branch of the Tokugawa family and was even used as the Imperial Palace for a period of time. It was then enlarged into a summer getaway location for the Imperial Family in Nikko but suffered neglect after WWII.

In 2000, the villa was made accessible to the public after refurbishment efforts. Today, the villa is now a museum and memorial park, remaining as one of the biggest remaining wooden buildings in Japan. Honing in influences of both Japanese and Western architectural styles, the interior infuses both through the intricate chandeliers, tatami flooring and sliding paper doors.