Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have gone on a retreat at the Nasu Imperial Villa in Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo.

The Imperial couple left the Imperial Palace by car shortly after 1:00 p.m. on August 21 before arriving around 5:00 p.m., and then strolled around the villa grounds.

Princess Aiko was unable to join them due to her work at the Japanese Red Cross Society, so this was the first time since Aiko's birth that the couple took the trip alone.

Emperor Naruhito: It's been a while, just the two of us like this. I hope we can relax a little here.

Empress Masako: I was wondering if we could walk around in here.

Emperor Naruhito: There is an abundance of nature here.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are scheduled to stay at the Nasu Imperial Villa until late August.