The Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence is a historic modern-era building located in Kaminomachi, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture, within the Taisho Romance Area.
The building originally stood in Uehara, Shibuya, Tokyo, as part of the residence of Taminosuke Kume, who was later honored as an honorary citizen of Numata. It preserves many architectural features from the early Taisho period and was relocated to Numata after facing demolition due to urban redevelopment.
Today, the restored building stands as an important reminder of Numata’s connection with one of the notable figures of Japan’s early modern period.
The Western-style residence is believed to have been completed around 1912. At the time, Taminosuke Kume maintained an extensive estate in Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo, known as the “Yoyogi Palace.” The grounds covered approximately 40,000 tsubo, an area of roughly 132,000 square meters.
The estate included traditional Japanese buildings with a Noh stage, as well as a Western-style residence incorporating contemporary European design. The Western-style building was used for receiving guests and entertaining visitors.
The design is said to have involved architects including Tōkuma Katayama, who worked on the Tokyo Imperial Palace’s Akasaka Palace, and Kōzaburō Kigo, who designed Otaru City Public Hall.
The exterior reflects the influence of the Secession style, associated with the Vienna Secession movement that was popular in Europe at the time. Decorative features can be seen in the eaves, metal fittings, molded ornaments, and stone finishes around the fireplaces.
In 1922, Kume sold the estate to the Kishu-Tokugawa family to secure funding for his railway business.
The Western-style residence was subsequently used as a reception house by the Tokugawa family. The building survived the turbulent decades that followed, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the destruction caused by World War II.
After the war, it was requisitioned by the Allied occupation authorities and later became known as the Iwasa Tamon Residence.
There is also an interesting story surrounding its survival. When demolition was considered, the building proved to be exceptionally sturdy, and the estimated cost of dismantling it was so high that the plan was abandoned.
Its reinforced-concrete construction, which was relatively advanced for its time, may have played an important role in allowing the building to survive.
In 2020, demolition was scheduled as part of an urban redevelopment project. However, information about the building reached Numata City along with requests for its preservation.
Because Taminosuke Kume was born in Numata, the city decided to acquire the building and preserve it. Relocation and restoration were completed in 2023, when the residence was moved to its present location in Kaminomachi.
During the relocation, as many original components as possible were reused, including the roof framework, eaves, window frames, and stonework. Detailed dismantling surveys and old photographs were also used to restore the building to its original appearance as accurately as possible.
The white imitation-stone tile exterior, gabled roof, and sash windows are among its most distinctive features. Although it is a single-story building with a floor area of approximately 80 square meters, its elegant proportions and refined details give it an impressive presence.
The history of the Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence is closely connected with the life of Taminosuke Kume.
Born in 1861 in Numata, then part of the province of Kozuke, Kume graduated at the top of his class from the Imperial College of Engineering, the predecessor of today’s University of Tokyo. He became a distinguished civil engineer and was involved in the design of the Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace.
He also achieved success as a businessman through railway construction and other enterprises. In addition, he entered politics and served as a member of the House of Representatives for four terms.
Later in life, Kume devoted himself to his hometown. He purchased the neglected site of Numata Castle, developed it, and eventually donated it to the city. The former castle grounds became today’s Numata Park.
For his contributions to Numata, Kume was honored as an honorary citizen of Numata.
The area around the Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence has been developed as the Taisho Romance Area. Several historic buildings dating from the Meiji and Taisho periods have been relocated and preserved here.
Other notable buildings include the Former Numata Savings Bank, the Former Toki Family Western-Style Residence, and the Former Numata Church Memorial Hall.
The streetscape, with its white walls and Western-style architectural details, evokes the elegant atmosphere of early twentieth-century Japan. Combination tickets are also available for visiting several of the historic facilities in the area.
The district is particularly appealing to visitors interested in architecture, history, and Japan’s modernization during the Meiji and Taisho periods.
The Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence is open to the public, allowing visitors to appreciate its Taisho-period architectural details and atmosphere at close range.
The residence is approximately 10 minutes by car from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
It is approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Numata Station. Buses and taxis are also available from the station.
The Former Kume Family Western-Style Residence has survived a remarkable series of changes, from its construction in Tokyo and its use as an aristocratic reception house to its postwar history and eventual rescue from demolition.
Its return to Numata, the hometown of Taminosuke Kume, gives the building a special connection with the city’s history. Today, it represents not only the architectural culture of the Taisho era but also Kume’s contributions to his hometown and Numata’s continuing efforts to preserve its cultural heritage.
When visiting Numata, take a leisurely walk through the Taisho Romance Area and discover the elegant Western-style architecture and history preserved in this unique historic district.