This is the only wooden building in the Pine Garden. Like all Japanese-style buildings, its moisture-resistant and thermal insulation functions may be observed from design details, such as elevated wooden floor and transom windows. During the Japanese Occupation, soldiers had gatherings and held important meetings here. In the center of the house is an altar where the photo of the Japanese emperor was placed. It was said that Kamikaze pilots used to come here before their missions to receive the “imperial wine” bestowed to them by their highest commanding officer on behalf of the emperor. When the Japanese was defeated in the War, it was rumored that the highest commanding officer committed suicide here.

Much effort was put into restoring the wooden house. In those days, not only was the ceiling corroded by rain and the floor rotted through, gigantic Devil’s Ivy was crawling over the entire right half of the wall. Today, you can still see marks left by the vine on the undamaged rainscreen. In order to recreate the most natural and rustic look, the builders painstakingly collected healthy old wood from various places to mend the damaged parts. If you look at the top of the door and the upper track of the sliding door, you can see marking and label, indicating the source and origin of the wood.