Prefectural Ōiso Jōyama Park (県立大磯城山公園)

The Oiso Joyama Park (大磯城山公園) is a Kanagawa Prefectural city park that stands on the former site of villa of the Mitsui family, the head of the Mitsui conglomerate, and the former residence of Shigeru Yoshida who served as prime minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954.  The two areas are divided by National Route 1.

View of Mount Fuji from National Route 1 at the Oiso Joyama Park

Former Mitsui Villa District

Cave tombs

Several relics from the Jomon period, as well as numerous horizontal tombs where potteries and other artifacts, have been discovered in this part of the park.  In addition, the Koiso Castle (小磯城) is believed to have stood on a steep mountain ridge west of the Oiso Municipal Museum in the park.

Oiso Municipal Museum

In 1898, the head of the Mitsui conglomerate built a villa and organized a garden at the site.  The "Joyama-so," a building constructed using ancient materials from famous temples and shrines across Japan, also once stood at the site.

Joyama-so

Next to Joyama-so is a Japanese garden called Maple Square surrounding a pond called Fudo-ike.  Every year around the end of November, a light-up event is held at the garden.

Maple Square

Over time, most of these facilities were moved elsewhere and the site was in a state of decay.  However, in response to the voices of many people, the site opened as the Oiso Joyama Park in 1987.

Observation deck

Monument of a boat and a stone shrine

Kitakura

Higashikura

From the observation deck, Mount Fuji and Izu Peninsula can be seen.  There is a small stone monument of a boat with a small stone shrine standing behind.

The Kitakura (North Storehouse), now used as a gallery building, was built in 1941.  It is one of the very few remaining buildings along with Higashikura (East Storehouse).

Former Shigeru Yoshida Residence District

Statue of Shigeru Yoshida

The former residence of Shigeru Yoshida was built on land purchased in 1884 by his adoptive father, Kenzo Yoshida.  Shigeru lived in this residence from around 1945 until his death in 1967.

Even after retiring from politics, many politicians visited the residence, which came to be known as "Oiso Pilgrimage."  Prominent figures, including former West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and the then Crown Prince (now Emperor Emeritus) and Crown Princess (now Empress Emerita), were also invited.  After Shigeru's death, the residence was used for significant political events, such as the summit between Prime Minister Ohira and President Carter.

The site was opened as the Former Shigeru Yoshida Residence District of the Oiso Joyama Park on September 22, 2013.

Kabutomon Gate

The site includes a rose garden, Kabutomon Gate, and Shichikendo enshrining Sanjo Sanetomi, Iwakura Tomomi, Kido Takayoshi, Okubo Toshimichi, Ito Hirobumi, Saionji Kinmochi, and Yoshida Shigeru.

Shichikendo