The Ehrismann Residence is a historic Western-style house located in Motomachi Park, Motomachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It was built between 1925 and 1926 as the private residence of Fritz Ehrismann, a Swiss businessman who worked in Japan’s silk trade.
The building was designed by Antonin Raymond, a Czech-born architect who became one of the important figures in the development of modern architecture in Japan. Its simple composition, horizontal lines, and carefully considered use of materials reflect Raymond’s architectural philosophy.
Although the original house was dismantled in 1982, Yokohama City preserved its components and reconstructed the building within Motomachi Park in 1990. Today, it is open to the public and is recognized as a Yokohama City Recognized Historic Building.
The residence is an important destination for visitors interested in modern architecture, the history of foreign residents in Yokohama, and the cultural heritage of the Yamate district.
The Ehrismann Residence was originally constructed between 1925 and 1926 at Yamate 127 in Yokohama.
It was built as the home of Fritz Ehrismann, a Swiss businessman who had established a long career in Japan’s silk trade. During this period, Yokohama was one of the country’s most important international trading ports, and foreign merchants played a significant role in the development of its commercial community.
The house was designed to provide a comfortable private residence while reflecting the modern architectural ideas of its time.
The architect was Antonin Raymond, who was born in what is now the Czech Republic.
Raymond first came to Japan in connection with the construction of the Imperial Hotel, accompanying the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. After gaining experience in Japan, he established himself as an independent architect.
The Ehrismann Residence is one of his early works following his independence. It demonstrates the development of his own architectural approach, which combined influences from modern architecture with careful attention to the natural environment and the practical requirements of everyday living.
Raymond’s design philosophy was based on five principles: nature, simplicity, directness, honesty, and economy. These ideas can be seen in the residence’s restrained exterior, functional room arrangement, and thoughtful use of materials.
After Fritz Ehrismann’s death, ownership of the house changed several times. The building survived the Second World War without suffering the destruction that affected many other parts of Yokohama.
However, in 1982, it was decided that the building would be dismantled to make way for an apartment development.
Recognizing the architectural and historical value of the residence, Yokohama City acquired its building components and preserved them. In 1990, the house was relocated to Motomachi Park and reconstructed.
This project allowed the building to survive despite the loss of its original site. The reconstructed residence retains the appearance and many of the architectural details of the original house.
In 2001, it was selected as a Yokohama City Recognized Historic Building, formally acknowledging its importance as part of the city’s architectural heritage.
The Ehrismann Residence is a wooden building with two floors above ground and one basement level. Its exterior is characterized by a gently sloping roof, a strong horizontal composition, and a carefully balanced arrangement of walls, windows, and balconies.
The design is relatively restrained compared with some of the more elaborate Western-style residences in Yokohama. Its appeal lies in the clarity of its structure and the relationship between the building and its surroundings.
One of the most distinctive features is the gently sloping roof. A projecting eave between the first and second floors further emphasizes the horizontal lines of the building.
This arrangement gives the residence a calm, balanced appearance and avoids the impression of a simple rectangular box.
The hipped roof is another important element of the design. Its shape helps create a more varied silhouette while maintaining the building’s overall simplicity.
The exterior walls use different types of wooden boards on the two floors.
The first floor features vertically arranged board-and-batten siding, while the second floor uses horizontally arranged weatherboarding. This contrast creates a subtle visual distinction between the levels and reinforces the building’s horizontal composition.
The combination of materials also demonstrates Raymond’s attention to the appearance and practical construction of the house.
A balcony is incorporated into the second-floor exterior. Together with the roof and projecting eaves, it contributes to the building’s carefully balanced appearance.
Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, the design uses the arrangement of architectural elements to create visual interest.
The interior of the Ehrismann Residence was planned around the everyday needs of a private household. The first floor contained spaces for receiving visitors, cooking, and family life, while the second floor was primarily used for private rooms.
The first floor originally contained a reception room, kitchen, and combined living and dining room.
The reception room provided a place to welcome guests, while the living-dining room served as the center of everyday family life. The kitchen was arranged as a separate functional space.
This layout reflects the residential habits of a foreign businessman’s household in Yokohama during the 1920s.
The second floor contained the bedrooms and bathroom. The separation of the private sleeping areas from the main living spaces on the first floor created a practical arrangement for the household.
The building’s layout also reflects the requirements of a family whose daily life combined Western-style domestic arrangements with elements adapted to living in Japan.
Steam heating was installed throughout the house to provide warmth during the colder months.
At the request of the owner, a fireplace was also installed in the reception room. This combination of a modern heating system and a traditional fireplace illustrates the attention given to comfort and the preferences of the household.
Another interesting feature is the separate arrangement of the bathroom and toilet.
Fritz Ehrismann’s wife was Japanese, and the design took her preferences into consideration. The separate facilities reflect the way the house accommodated the domestic habits of a family whose cultural backgrounds included both European and Japanese influences.
Fritz Ehrismann (1867–1940) was a Swiss businessman from Zurich. He came to Japan in 1888 as the manager of the silk-trading company Siebel Hegner.
At the time, raw silk was one of Japan’s major export products, and Yokohama played a central role in its international trade. Foreign trading companies helped connect Japanese producers with overseas markets, particularly in Europe and North America.
Ehrismann spent much of his life in Japan and continued living in the country until his death in 1940.
After his death, he was buried at the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery, where his name remains associated with the history of Yokohama’s international community.
The residence that bears his name provides a tangible connection with the foreign merchants who helped shape the city’s commercial and cultural development.
Today, the Ehrismann Residence is managed as a public facility within Motomachi Park. Visitors can enter the building free of charge and explore its architectural features and exhibition spaces.
The house has been adapted for public use while retaining its historic character. Its rooms introduce the history of the building and the Western-style residential culture of the Yamate district.
The second floor displays materials related to the history of Yamate and its Western-style residences.
These exhibits help visitors understand the development of the area as an international residential district and the architectural heritage represented by buildings such as the Ehrismann Residence.
The former kitchen has been renovated and is now used by Shoyu Café.
The café offers distinctive items such as soy sauce bread and fresh pudding. Its use of the historic kitchen creates an appealing combination of traditional architecture and contemporary food culture.
It is a pleasant place to take a break during a visit to the residence and enjoy a café experience within a historic Western-style house.
The basement is used as a rental hall for exhibitions and events.
This space allows the residence to host cultural activities and provides opportunities for visitors to encounter different forms of art and local community events.
The Ehrismann Residence is located within Motomachi Park, an area containing several important historic buildings and green spaces.
Visitors can combine a visit to the residence with a walk through the park and explore other preserved Western-style houses in the surrounding district.
Bluff No.234 is a historic apartment building completed in 1927. It was originally designed as housing for several foreign households and provides a contrast with the Ehrismann Residence, which was built as a private family home.
Berrick Hall is one of the largest historic Western-style residences in the Yamate district. Its architectural details and spacious interior provide an impression of the lifestyle of a foreign businessman and his family in early 20th-century Yokohama.
British House Yokohama stands within Harbor View Park and was constructed in 1937 as the official residence of the British Consul General.
Its diplomatic history and architectural style offer a different perspective on the international community that lived in Yokohama.
Yamate Italian Garden is another area where visitors can discover historic Western-style architecture. The Diplomat’s House and Bluff No.18 are located within the garden and are open to the public.
Exploring these buildings together provides a broader understanding of the architectural styles and residential environments that developed in Yokohama’s foreign settlement areas.
The residence is approximately an eight-minute walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line.
Visitors traveling from Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line or Yokohama Municipal Subway can take Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Bus Route 11 and get off at the Motomachi Koen-mae bus stop, which is close to the park.
The regular closing day is the second Wednesday of each month. As opening arrangements may change for maintenance or special events, it is advisable to check the latest information before visiting.
The Ehrismann Residence is a valuable example of modern Western-style residential architecture in Yokohama. Designed by Antonin Raymond and built for Swiss businessman Fritz Ehrismann between 1925 and 1926, it reflects a design philosophy based on nature, simplicity, directness, honesty, and economy.
Its gently sloping roof, horizontal lines, contrasting wooden wall treatments, balcony, and carefully arranged interior spaces demonstrate how modern architectural ideas were applied to a private home in Japan.
Although the original building was dismantled in 1982, Yokohama City’s preservation and reconstruction project brought it back to life in Motomachi Park in 1990. Its designation as a recognized historic building in 2001 further confirms its importance to the city’s architectural heritage.
Today, visitors can explore its rooms, view exhibitions about Yamate and its Western-style houses, and enjoy refreshments at Shoyu Café in the former kitchen.
For travelers interested in architecture, the history of foreign residents, and Yokohama’s international culture, the Ehrismann Residence is an especially rewarding destination.