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The Chorakukan in Maruyama Park, Kyoto, was built in 1909 by the tobacco king, businessman Yoshibei Murai, to entertain guests from Japan and abroad.

Designed by American architect Gardiner, it was called the Rokumeikan of the West, and was visited by such Meiji era figures as Hirobumi Ito, Shigenobu Okuma, and Aritomo Yamagata. He visited the reception room, hoping to try afternoon tea, something that women also enjoy.

It is said that afternoon tea originated in 1840, when Anna Maria Russell, wife of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, started it.

In the 19th century, with the spread of lamps and evening socializing, it was customary for the upper classes in England to have dinner quite late. Around 1840, Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, complained of a "sinking feeling" and ordered snacks and a pot of tea (usually Darjeeling) to be sneaked into her room to stave off mid-afternoon hunger.

She then began inviting friends to her mansion to enjoy the snacks, and the habit of having a light tea quickly spread as a social tradition among ladies throughout England.

While the duke and his male guests enjoyed hunting and shooting, Anna would invite her ladies into the drawing room (a room for female guests to enjoy tea) and treat them to tea parties before dinner.

Woburn Abbey, the mansion where the tradition originated, is open to the public, and the Blue Drawing Room, where afternoon tea was held, still remains. (Photo above)

The Chorakukan is a treasure trove of artistic styles, with a Renaissance exterior, Rococo reception hall, neo-classical Le Chaine dining room, and Art Nouveau stained glass and windows. It is a perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea in a mansion museum like this.

The two gateposts supporting the roof of the entrance are Ionic, an ancient Greek architectural style. The Murai family crest, "three oaks," is engraved in the golden circle at the top of the entrance.

Finally, afternoon tea begins.

The teapot and cups are from Herend in Hungary. Queen Victoria fell in love with these tea utensils at first sight, and they became a huge hit.

When eating scones, the question of "which should go first, the cream or the jam?" has become famous in Japan as well.

On the website taste, there is an article titled "The great scone debate is finally settled... (and apparently the Queen agrees)," and this debate has been going on since the 11th century.

The website asked Facebook followers whether they wanted the jam or the cream to go first, and received more than 18,000 votes in total, of which 17,000 said jam first, and only 1,000 said cream.

And according to a former chef for Her Majesty Elizabeth II, "The Queen has had homemade Balmoral jam with clotted cream on top at every royal tea party." This settled the matter.

I tried both, and it was definitely better with the cream on top of the jam, but it's a peaceful debate.

After enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea, we were allowed to freely look around the second floor, and returned amazed by the luxurious interior and furniture.