Welcome to the Imai family legacy, rooted in a storied lineage believed to have descended from Kanehira Imai. A trusted retainer of Minamoto no Yoshinaka (1154-1184), he sought refuge in these remote mountains when his master was banished and defeated by an older brother. This is where the family dwelt for hundreds of years during Japan’s feudal era — in the fertile basin of the country’s highest lake, Suwa-ko, lying along the Nakasendo, one of feudal Japan’s main travel routes. It was a hard life of back-bending rice farming and silkworm harvesting, varying only by the seasons – bitter cold winters, life-affirming springs, humid summers relieved by breezes off the lake, and fiery autumns as the mountain slopes turned brilliant with fall leaves. For generations, our family has nurtured Kanehira Shrine and led the Imai clan group, embodying governance and community ties. Rebuilt in its current location for over 200 years, our ancestral home stands proudly along the Nakasendo trade route, offering a window into Japan's rich history.

Our centuries-old village traditions centered around Kanehira Shrine, a cornerstone of village life. From vibrant New Year's celebrations to joyous Obon festivals and the once-in-seven-years Onbashira festival, our ancestral home has witnessed a tapestry of village gatherings. Our o-kura (storehouses) held dishes and bowls for entertaining 100 people. While similar homes around the country disappeared through Japan’s modernization, our cherished family home was preserved as a cool summer retreat and reminder of our family's story through generations.

At 'Villa Azalea,' surround yourself with the artistry of traditional Japanese architecture and landscaping. The home’s every detail speaks of craftsmanship and innovation. Magnificent beams and pillars support strategically placed sliding doors, which capture refreshing breezes from Lake Suwa while relaxing in versatile tatami rooms. A cozy irori (sunken hearth) — where pots once bubbled over embers all through a cold winter day — provide a center to the home, and azalea gardens throughout the front and back gardens burst into color with the coming of Spring. While the main village activity was rice farming, the home’s second floor was used for sericulture — the cultivation of silkworms and the weaving of fine silk threads, for sale to merchants traveling to China and eventually to New York in the 19th century. Beautiful two-storied o-kura with waffle-patterned namako walls stand both in front and behind the house, and a traditional water well once believed to be inhabited by the Dragon god quenches the garden’s thirst.