Tenshin Okakura was a famous writer, art critic and scholar of the Meiji Period (1868 to 1912). He helped to establish the Tokyo School of Arts, was Curator of the Department of Japanese and Chinese Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and is best known outside Japan for the English-language Book of Tea.

He first visited Akakura in May 1906 and was enchanted by the onsen, so he built a villa the following year. In fact, he spent his final days here, insisting on visiting his Akakura villa as his kidney disease worsened. His villa is still here, along with the monument erected by major artist Taikan Yokoyama and others. The monument is clearly visible from the ski trail leading down to the first Yodel lift; his villa was rebuilt in 1939 with the pond remaining as it was originaly constructed (not accessible in winter).