Bluff No.111 is a historic Western-style residence located in Yamate, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It stands within Harbor View Park and is one of the buildings that give the Yamate district its distinctive international atmosphere. With its elegant Spanish-style architecture and carefully preserved design, the house offers visitors a glimpse of the residential culture of foreign communities in Yokohama.
Bluff No.111 was built by J. E. Raffin, an American money changer. According to the story associated with the residence, a ship on which Mr. Raffin was travelling had to make an unexpected stop in Yokohama for repairs. During his stay, he visited Hakone, where he met a woman named Miyo. The two fell deeply in love, married, and began a new life together in Yokohama.
The Raffin family eventually had eight children. The house was built in 1926, the fifteenth year of the Taishō era, in connection with the marriage of their eldest son.
After leaving the Raffin family, the residence passed through several owners. Fortunately, it continued to be carefully maintained, and many of its original architectural features and design details have survived. Yokohama City acquired the building in 1996, and it was opened to the public in 1999. In November of the same year, it was designated a Yokohama City Tangible Cultural Property in recognition of its historical and architectural value.
Bluff No.111 has two floors above ground and one basement level. The above-ground structure is wooden, while the basement is made of reinforced concrete. Its exterior walls have a stucco finish, and the red roof tiles are a distinctive feature of its Spanish-style design. The warm appearance of the building blends naturally with the international character of Yokohama’s Yamate district.
The main entrance faces the street on the west side of the building. Its most striking feature is a series of three arches, above which is an open pergola without a roof. This creates a welcoming, airy entrance that makes the building feel especially graceful.
Inside, visitors are greeted by a spacious entrance hall extending upward through two floors. A gallery runs along the second-floor level, overlooking the hall below. Its design gives the interior a sense of openness and provides an opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship and architectural style of the period.
Today, Bluff No.111 is open to the public as part of the facilities of Harbor View Park. To protect the historic building, however, access to the second-floor gallery is limited and is generally provided only about once a month. Even when the gallery is not open, visitors can appreciate the residence’s exterior, its Spanish-style details, and the atmosphere of the surrounding park.
Admission to the building is free. The regular closing day is the second Wednesday of each month. A café operates in the basement, where visitors can take a break and enjoy the historic setting.
The most memorable features of Bluff No.111 include its Spanish-style exterior, red tiled roof, three-arched entrance, and two-story hall with its upper gallery. Together, these details convey the influence of Western residential architecture in Yokohama during the early twentieth century.
The residence is also an excellent stop when exploring Harbor View Park and the surrounding Yamate area. The park is known for its views of Yokohama Port and the international atmosphere created by its historic Western-style buildings. Visitors can combine a visit to Bluff No.111 with a stroll through the park and nearby historic residences.
Bluff No.111 is particularly appealing to travelers interested in architecture, local history, and the cultural exchanges that shaped modern Yokohama.