Kamonyama Park is located in Momijigaoka, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Situated on elevated ground overlooking the Minato Mirai 21 district, it is a pleasant green space known for its historical monument and seasonal scenery.
The park is particularly associated with a bronze statue of Ii Naosuke, a prominent historical figure closely connected with the opening of Yokohama Port. It is also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot. In spring, approximately 200 cherry trees bloom throughout the grounds, attracting many visitors who come to enjoy the flowers.
Until the Edo period, the elevated site faced the sea and was known as Fudoyama. In the early Meiji period, residences for foreign railway engineers, including Edmund Morel, who was involved in the construction of the railway connecting Shimbashi Station and Yokohama Station (now Sakuragicho Station), were built here.
The land was subsequently used for railway purposes and became known as Tetsudoyama, meaning Railway Hill.
In 1884, former retainers of the Hikone domain purchased the land, which then became the property of the Ii family. In 1909, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port, a bronze statue of Ii Naosuke was erected on the site.
However, the plan to honor Ii Naosuke as a benefactor of Japan’s opening to the outside world was controversial. Yamagata Aritomo, Ito Hirobumi, Matsukata Masayoshi, Inoue Kaoru, and other prominent figures opposed the stated purpose of the monument and did not attend its unveiling ceremony. Around this time, the area began to be called Kamon-yama, taking its name from Ii Naosuke’s court title, Kamon no Kami.
In 1914, the Ii family donated the land to Yokohama City, and it was developed into a public park.
During the Second World War, the bronze statue was temporarily removed under the government’s metal collection policy. It was reconstructed in 1954 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Yokohama Port.
Today, approximately 200 cherry trees grow in the park, making it a popular destination for hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying cherry blossoms. In 1996, Yokohama Noh Theater was also built within the park, giving the site an additional role as a venue for traditional Japanese performing arts.
The bronze statue of Ii Naosuke in the park was completed on June 26, 1909. The original plan, proposed in 1881, was to erect a commemorative monument. In 1903, the plan was changed to create a bronze statue instead.
The statue itself is approximately 3.6 meters tall and depicts Ii Naosuke wearing formal court attire associated with his rank of Shōshii-jō and position as Sakonoe Gonchūjō. The original model was created by engineering graduate Bunzo Fujita, and the bronze casting was carried out by Sessho Okazaki.
The pedestal was designed by engineering professor Yoshiaki Tsumaki and reaches approximately 6.6 meters in height.
During the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the statue did not collapse. However, the shaking caused it to turn approximately 25 degrees toward the south.
In 1943, during the Second World War, the bronze portion of the monument was removed as part of the government’s metal collection campaign. It was later reconstructed in 1954 to mark the centenary of the opening of Yokohama Port.
The reconstructed statue was cast by the sculptor Keiji Tanchō and his son. They used a sculpture of Ii Naosuke at Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, the Ii family’s ancestral temple, as a reference and sought to reproduce the original statue as closely as possible.
The new statue was completed and installed on May 20, 1954.
Since the 1990s, the development of Minato Mirai 21 has transformed the surrounding skyline. Today, the statue appears to look up toward modern high-rise buildings, including Yokohama Landmark Tower, creating a striking contrast between the city’s history and its contemporary architecture.
The pedestal of the statue was designated a Yokohama City Certified Historic Building on March 28, 2012, recognizing its historical significance and its role in preserving the area’s heritage.
Kamonyama Park is laid out across a sloping hillside, making use of the natural elevation from the foot of the hill to its upper reaches. Visitors should expect some uphill walking when exploring the grounds.
The statue of Ii Naosuke stands in an open area near the top of the hill, so reaching it requires a little effort. During cherry blossom season and on clear days, the route from the Yokohama Noh Theater side is particularly convenient and offers attractive views along the way.
With its cherry trees, historical monument, and location overlooking the Minato Mirai district, Kamonyama Park offers a combination of nature, history, and urban scenery.