Former Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan Waterworks Kamakura

A Modernist Water Heritage Reborn in Kamakura

Nestled beside the historic Daibutsuzaka Tunnel on the road between Fujisawa and Kamakura, the Former Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan Waterworks Kamakura Pressure Pump Station stands as a striking testament to early Showa-era industrial architecture. Built in 1936, this reinforced concrete building once played a vital role in delivering clean water to the Shonan coastal region. Today, it has been beautifully repurposed as MOKICHI KAMAKURA, a restaurant operated by the historic Kumazawa Brewery, while preserving its architectural character as a nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Historical Background

As the Shonan region developed rapidly in the early 20th century as a popular seaside resort, residential area, and vacation destination, the growing population faced serious problems with water quality and supply shortages. In response, Kanagawa Prefecture undertook an ambitious public waterworks project to supply clean water drawn from the Sagami River to one city and nine towns across the region, including Kamakura, Fujisawa, Chigasaki, Hiratsuka, and surrounding communities.

Completed in 1936 (Showa 11), the Kamakura Pressure Pump Station was an essential component of this system, pressurizing water for delivery to Kamakura, Zushi, and Hayama. It represents the earliest surviving structure from Kanagawa Prefecture's public waterworks operations and is a rare prewar water infrastructure heritage site in the Kamakura area.

The pump station served its original purpose until 1961, when it was decommissioned. From 1965 to 2002, the building was repurposed as the Daibutsuzaka Gymnasium, serving the local community for sports and recreation. After the gymnasium closed, the building sat vacant for over a decade. In 2016, Kanagawa Prefecture sold the property through competitive bidding to Kumazawa Brewery, with the condition that the exterior be preserved. After six years of careful planning and renovation, the building reopened in December 2022 as MOKICHI KAMAKURA, a restaurant celebrating the connection between water heritage and the art of brewing.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

The building was designated as a Kamakura City Landscape-Important Building in 2019, and in August 2024, it was officially registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building). The designation recognizes several key values.

First, as the earliest surviving facility from Kanagawa Prefecture's public waterworks operations, it holds significant historical importance as a heritage of modern water infrastructure that supported the daily lives of citizens in the Shonan region. Second, its architectural design exemplifies prewar modernist public architecture, featuring a clean and restrained reinforced concrete composition with carefully designed decorative elements at key locations such as the entrance and stairway areas. The geometric ornamentation around the staircase is particularly noteworthy. Third, together with the adjacent Daibutsuzaka Tunnel built in 1921, the pump station forms an important cluster of prewar industrial heritage sites, creating a distinctive historical landscape along the Fujisawa-Kamakura prefectural road.

Architectural Highlights

The building is a single-story reinforced concrete structure with a partial second floor, covering a building area of approximately 290 square meters and a total floor area of approximately 350 square meters. Its exterior is clad entirely in scratch tiles — a distinctive type of textured tile popular in early Showa architecture — with an artificial stone base. Tall, narrow windows are arranged alongside square windows, creating a rhythmic facade composition that balances functionality with aesthetic refinement.

Inside, the rectangular floor plan features a two-level section toward the north side, where the staircase area is adorned with geometric Art Deco-inspired decorative motifs. While the original pump machinery has been removed, a remnant of the overhead crane used to install and maintain heavy equipment has been intentionally preserved, serving as a powerful reminder of the building's industrial origins. The overall architectural approach combines simplicity of composition with elaborate detailing at key points such as the entrance and circulation areas.

MOKICHI KAMAKURA: A New Chapter

The building's current owner, Kumazawa Brewery (Kumazawa Shuzo), is Shonan's only sake brewery, with a history stretching back to 1872 (Meiji 5). The sixth-generation brewer, Mokichi Kumazawa, felt a deep connection to the pump station upon learning that it once channeled water from the Tanzawa mountain range — the same pristine water source used in Kumazawa's sake production.

Today, MOKICHI KAMAKURA operates as an innovative fusion restaurant combining Italian and French cuisine with Japanese fermented ingredients from the brewery, including sake lees (sakekasu) and koji. The restaurant features craft beer from their Shonan Beer line, the acclaimed Tensei sake brand, and original cocktails made with herbs grown in the on-site garden. Reclaimed timber from a Showa-era Western-style residence in Zaimokuza and European antique lighting create an atmosphere that harmonizes industrial heritage with modern sophistication.

Visitor Information

The former pump station is located at 4-527-1 Hase, Kamakura, directly east of the Kamakura-side entrance to the Daibutsuzaka Tunnel. The building's striking scratch-tile exterior can be appreciated from the public road. As MOKICHI KAMAKURA, the restaurant is open for lunch (11:30–14:30), café time (14:30–16:00), and dinner (17:30–21:00), and is closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and holidays.

The nearest public transportation stop is the Daibutsuzaka bus stop on the Enoden Bus route, just one minute on foot. From Hase Station on the Enoden Line, it is approximately a 12-minute walk along the road toward the Great Buddha. The building is also located at the trailhead of the popular Daibutsu Hiking Course connecting Hase to Kita-Kamakura.

Surrounding Attractions

The Hase area of Kamakura is one of the city's most popular sightseeing districts, offering a wealth of cultural and historical attractions within easy walking distance of the former pump station.

• Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura): Just a few minutes' walk away, this temple houses the iconic National Treasure bronze seated Amida Buddha, standing 13.35 meters tall and dating to the Kamakura period. Visitors can enter the interior of the statue.
• Hase-dera Temple: Known as the "Temple of Flowers," Hase-dera features a magnificent eleven-faced Kannon statue, stunning seasonal hydrangeas, and panoramic views of Sagami Bay from its observation terrace.
• Daibutsuzaka Tunnel: Adjacent to the pump station, this tunnel was built in 1921 (Taisho 10) and forms part of the same prewar industrial heritage cluster.
• Goryo Shrine (Goryo Jinja): A charming shrine where the Enoden train passes directly in front of the torii gate, creating a beloved photographic scene unique to Kamakura.
• Kamakura Museum of Literature: Set in a former aristocratic villa with beautiful rose gardens, this museum celebrates the many renowned authors who lived and worked in Kamakura.