The Former Residence of Yoshida Shigeru (旧吉田茂邸)

Statue of Shigeru Yoshida

The Former Residence of Shigeru Yoshida (1878–1967), who served as Japan's prime minister from 1946 to 1947 and again from 1948 to 1954, is one of the major tourist attractions in Oiso, Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The Former Residence of Yoshida Shigeru and the Japanese garden

Rose garden

The land was originally purchased in 1884 by his adoptive father, Kenzo Yoshida, who built a villa on the site. After Kenzo's death, Shigeru Yoshida inherited the property and made it his main residence from around 1945 until his passing in 1967.

Even after retiring from politics, Yoshida's home remained a hub of political activity. Many prominent figures visited the residence, a custom known as Oiso Mode (大磯詣) — literally meaning "Oiso Pilgrimage." Notable invited guests included former West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) and the then Crown Prince and Princess (now Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita of Japan).

Kabutomon Gate

Shichikendo

The residence continued to play a role in diplomacy after Yoshida's death, most famously hosting a summit between Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira and U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

The original building was destroyed by fire in March 2009. It was later rebuilt, and on September 22, 2013, the site was opened to the public as part of Oiso Joyama Park (大磯城山公園).

Visitors today can enjoy not only the reconstructed residence (which requires an admission fee) but also the rose garden, the Japanese garden, the Kabutomon Gate (兜門), and Shichikendo (七賢堂), a Shinto shrine originally from the residence of Japan's first prime minister, Hirobumi Ito (1841–1909). The shrine, relocated here in 1955, currently enshrines several key figures from Japan's modernization, including Sanetomi Sanjo (1837–1891), Tomomi Iwakura (1825–1883), Takayoshi Kido (1833–1877), Toshimichi Okubo (1830–1878), Hirobumi Ito, Kinmochi Saionji (1849–1940), and Shigeru Yoshida himself.

Sunroom

In March 2019, the Kabutomon Gate, Shichikendo, and the sunroom — which survived the fire — were designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties by the Japanese government.

View of Mt. Fuji from National Route 1 running in front of the Former Residence of Yoshida Shigeru

The site is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:45 PM.