Shinreikyo Kamakura Renseijo Reigenkaku (Former Residence of Jotaro Yamamoto)

A Rare Surviving Example of a Villa Built Before the Great Kanto Earthquake

This structure was built as a villa for Jotaro Yamamoto, a businessman and politician who served as the president of the South Manchuria Railway. Using carefully selected materials from Kyoto and showcasing the mastery of Kyoto carpenters, it was built in an exceptional Kyoto sukiya tea house style, which embraces the aesthetic of refined simplicity. Located on a hill 40 meters above sea level, the garden offers a sweeping view of the Yuigahama beach. It is a valuable example of a villa built before the Great Kanto Earthquake and provides a glimpse into life at such villas. It was acquired by the Shinreikyo religious group in 1982 and named “Kamakura Renseijo Reigenkaku.”