Old Building of the Convent of the Filial Daughters of Jesus

A Former Imperial Villa by the Sea: The Story of Higashifushimi-no-miya Hayama Residence

Tucked away in the quiet seaside town of Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture, the former Higashifushimi-no-miya Hayama Residence stands as a remarkable survivor of Japan's imperial architectural heritage. Built in 1914 as a retreat for Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito, this elegant Western-style villa is the sole remaining imperial family villa in Hayama and one of the very few pre-Great Kanto Earthquake imperial residences still standing in the entire Shonan coastal region. Now known as the Former Main Building of the Convent of the Daughters of Jesus, it continues to grace the Hayama coastline with its dignified white facade and distinctive tower.

Historical Background

The residence was completed in 1914 (Taisho 3) as the seaside retreat of Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito (1867–1922). The prince, born as a son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye, established the Higashifushimi-no-miya branch of the imperial family in 1903. Having studied in both England and France, he went on to serve with distinction in the Imperial Japanese Navy, eventually becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Yokosuka Naval District — a position that deepened his ties to the Miura Peninsula where Hayama is located.

At the time of its construction, the estate was vast, encompassing approximately 8,566 tsubo (about 28,300 square meters) of land including residential plots, farmland, and forested hillside. The compound originally consisted of a two-story Western-style building, two Japanese-style structures, several auxiliary buildings, a greenhouse, and garden pavilions. After the prince's death in 1922, the villa continued to serve as a retreat for the imperial family.

In the early 1950s, the property was acquired by the Catholic Diocese of Yokohama as a facility for retired clergy, and was subsequently transferred to the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (Filles de Jésus) around 1953. The religious order established the Hayama convent on the grounds and later opened Akenohoshi Kindergarten in one of the remaining Japanese-style buildings in 1954. In 1971, portions of the land were sold to fund the construction of a new kindergarten building, and a new convent was completed in 1976. The Western-style villa underwent renovations in 1976 and again in 1987, during which the original chimneys were removed. Today, the property occupies roughly one-thirtieth of its original area, and only the Western-style building survives from the original compound.

Why It Was Designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The building was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property on May 2, 2017, under the criterion of serving as an exemplary model of architectural design. Several factors contributed to this recognition.

First, it is the only surviving imperial family villa in Hayama. The town of Hayama has deep connections to the Japanese imperial household — the Hayama Imperial Villa was established here in 1894, and multiple branches of the imperial family, including the Arisugawa, Kitashirakawa, Takamatsu, and Chichibu families, maintained seasonal retreats in the area. Of all these residences, only the Higashifushimi villa remains standing today.

Second, it is of exceptional rarity as a pre-1923 imperial residence in the broader Shonan region. While numerous imperial and aristocratic villas were built along the coastline from Kamakura to Oiso during the Meiji and Taisho periods, almost all were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 or lost to subsequent development. This villa, having survived the earthquake intact, is the sole example of its kind from that era.

Third, the building is recognized for the refinement and elegance of its design, both inside and out. Its architectural qualities embody the high standards of imperial residential architecture from the early Taisho period.

Architectural Highlights and Design Features

The villa was designed by Kigo Kozaburo (1874–1941), a distinguished architect who served as a technical officer in the Imperial Household Ministry's Bureau of Construction (Takumi-ryo). Born into an architectural family — his father Kigo Kiyotaka was also a prominent Takumi-ryo architect — Kozaburo graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's Department of Architecture and went on to design numerous imperial buildings, including sections of the Togu Palace (Crown Prince's Residence) and the Takeda-no-miya Western-style mansion (now part of the Takanawa Prince Hotel).

The building's most striking feature is its commanding height. The main ridge of the two-story structure reaches 13.4 meters, while the top of the three-story tower soars to 15 meters — an exceptional scale for a residential building. The pristine white exterior features German-style weatherboard cladding (known as "doitsu shitami-baribari"), set upon a stone foundation. The combination of the smooth wall surfaces, shuttered sash windows, and the grand hipped roof creates an impression of stately dignity.

The south-facing carriage porch is particularly noteworthy, measuring approximately 3 meters wide, 5.4 meters deep, and 4 meters high. Despite its imposing scale, the porch achieves an air of delicacy through refined geometric ornamentation on the transoms and eave decorations, topped by an elegant coffered ceiling in the fukiyose style.

The architectural details incorporate elements of Secession style (Vienna Secession), reflecting the European avant-garde influences that were filtering into Japanese imperial architecture during this period. The western side of both the first and second floors features spacious sunrooms that take full advantage of the seaside location, flooding the interior with natural light and offering views toward the coast. The second floor also contains Japanese-style rooms with notably high ceilings, a characteristic feature unique to imperial family residences that lent the spaces an atmosphere of dignified formality.

The building is a timber-framed, two-story structure with a copper-plate roof and a total building area of 280 square meters. The green patina of the aged copper roof contrasts beautifully with the white clapboard walls, creating a distinguished appearance that has mellowed gracefully with the passage of more than a century.

A Miraculous Survivor

One of the most remarkable aspects of this building is the series of historical circumstances that ensured its survival. While countless Western-style mansions along the Shonan coast were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, this villa endured. Following World War II, many surviving aristocratic and imperial properties were requisitioned by the Allied Occupation forces, often suffering damage or neglect. However, because the building had already been transferred to a Catholic religious order, it escaped GHQ requisition entirely — a fortunate turn of events that preservation experts have described as almost miraculous.

The building's continued use as a functioning convent and community institution has also contributed to its preservation, as the religious order maintained it through careful stewardship over the decades. Today, the villa is occasionally opened for cultural events, art exhibitions, and can even serve as a venue for weddings and overnight stays, allowing visitors to experience the refined atmosphere of early Taisho-period imperial architecture firsthand.

Visiting Information

It is important to note that the building is not regularly open to the public. As a kindergarten operates on the adjacent grounds, unauthorized entry is not permitted for safety reasons. However, the building is opened for special events and exhibitions throughout the year, including programs organized during the Hayama Art Festival. Visitors interested in seeing the interior should check local event listings and the Hayama Town website for scheduled open days.

The exterior of the building can be partially viewed from the surrounding streets. The distinctive white facade and tower are visible from several vantage points in the Horiuchi neighborhood.

Nearby Attractions

The former Higashifushimi villa is situated in the heart of Hayama's scenic coastal area, making it easy to combine a visit with exploration of the town's many other attractions.

• Hayama Shiosai Park — Built on the grounds of the former Hayama Imperial Villa annex, this tranquil Japanese garden features ponds with colorful koi, the Fukei waterfall, a tea house called Ikkeian, and the Shiosai Museum with specimens donated by Emperor Showa. A short walk from the villa.
• Isshiki Beach — Selected as one of CNN's "World's 100 Best Beaches" and also included in the Ministry of the Environment's "88 Best Beaches of Japan," this pristine beach lies in front of the Hayama Imperial Villa. Its calm atmosphere and crystal-clear waters offer a truly regal seaside experience.
• The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama — A branch of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, this seaside gallery overlooks Isshiki Beach and features outdoor sculptures by artists including Isamu Noguchi, set within a beautifully landscaped garden.
• Yamaguchi Hosyun Memorial Museum — The former residence of Japanese painter Yamaguchi Hosyun, redesigned by renowned architect Yoshida Isoya, now serves as a museum displaying his works amid a lovely garden that blooms throughout the seasons.
• Morito Shrine (Morito Daimyojin) — Believed to have been founded by Minamoto no Yoritomo, this historic Shinto shrine overlooks the sea and offers views of Najima Island with its iconic torii gate standing in the water.

Access

From JR Zushi Station or Keikyu Zushi-Hayama Station, take a Keikyu Bus bound for Hayama (Isshiki) via the coastal route and alight at the "Mukaihara" bus stop. The building is approximately a two-minute walk from the bus stop. By car, the villa is located approximately 30 minutes from the Zushi Interchange on the Yokohama-Yokosuka Expressway.