The building was built in 1921 by MITSUI & CO., LTD, a major Japanese general trading company, as a social club for entertaining VIPs, and is designated as a National important cultural properties.
In 1922, Dr. Einstein (1879-1955), that well-known physicist who was visiting Japan on a lecture tour, stayed there for about a week with his wife.
The second floor of the building currently houses the Einstein Memorial Room, which displays furniture and furnishings from that time.
The building was constructed in the “half-timber” style—a European wooden construction method— and the interior is designed in the art deco style.
The “Mitsui Club” restaurant on the first floor has a retro and prestigious atmosphere with high ceilings and red carpets, but you can enjoy fugu (blowfish) dishes, grilled curry, and other dishes at reasonable prices.
