Murin-an (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City)—a villa originally built for Yamagata Aritomo, a prominent statesman of the Meiji era—is hosting an event where visitors can enjoy a sense of coolness provided by large blocks of ice. Amidst the continuing intense heat, guests are delighting in the refreshing presence of the ice while gazing out at the garden, which is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
The event was organized to offer visitors a chance to experience a "Meiji-era summer"—a time when people cooled off using ice rather than air conditioning. Large ice blocks, measuring approximately 45 centimeters on each side, have been placed in the main building's eight-mat and ten-mat rooms. Fresh green maple leaves are scattered across the tops of the clear ice to enhance the cooling atmosphere.
On August 8, visitors sought relief from the heat by bringing their hands and faces close to the ice blocks. A 37-year-old female office worker from Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, who was visiting while on a trip, smiled and remarked, "It’s lovely to see the ice melting slightly and the water droplets dripping down."
The ice blocks will also be displayed on August 11, 15, 22, and 29. Admission to Murin-an requires an entrance fee and a reservation.
