Yamate Historical Area in Yokohama

Last November, my Dubai travel friend and I enjoyed a walking tour of a historical district in Yokohama. Known as Yokohama-Yamate, this hilly area was home to many foreign ambassadors and businessmen who moved to Japan in the late 1890s. The houses on our tour were all built after the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, and so, are very well preserved. Currently, this district has seven houses, one tennis club, and one smaller house, all which are open to the public. Entrance is free.(!!)

The most famous home on the Yamate tour is Berrick Hall. It was designed by J.H Morgan in 1930. Until 2000, it served as a residence hall for students at nearby Saint Joseph's International School. The architectural style is Spanish, with light brown, brick arches lining the front. Inside, you can find a conservatory (where piano recitals are often held), a dining room, a sitting room and more. The best feature of this house are clover-leaf windows on the second floor.

Photos: Second floor of Berrick Hall, featuring the beautiful clover-leaf designed windows:

Yamate is also home to the very first tennis club in Japan. Located next to Yamate 68 kan ban, another restored home, this beautiful building has the original hardwood floors and warm fireplace to greet players. In the back, four courts are still open for anyone who wishes to play tennis (reservations required).

To access the tennis club and Yamate 68 ban kan,  you'll need to venture down the hill, through a park hosting part of the foreign cemetery, but it's still a beautiful walk.

Top two photos: Walking down towards Yamate 68 and the tennis club itself. 

Bottom two photos: Tea set and fireplace inside one of the many restored houses in the Yamate area. 


My friend suggested we enjoy a late lunch after our morning walk, and in one house, we couldn't resist the delicious smells wafting from the working kitchen. My friend and I ordered a French-Japanese fused nabe (stew) with two, equally unique, desserts: egg pudding and black sugar creamed fruits.

Top two photos: Outside Yamate 68, and "The lion fountain bit my finger!" (inside Berrick Hall)

Bottom photos: Fireplace in Berrick's Hall, raw egg pudding(!) and other sweets. 

Who says touring Japan has to be expensive? This is a great *free* activity to enjoy with friends. I hope you'll give it a try.

Information: 

The Yokohama Yamate Western-style buildings are free to the public; some host wedding ceremonies, as well as music recitals. Free maps are available at Ishikawa-cho train station, with a recommended walking path. Toilets and places are eat are well marked on the map. Allow 2 ~ 4 hours to walk the complete route and view all nine historical houses. 

The houses are called: 
-- Bluff No.111
-- British House Yokohama
-- Bluff No. 234
-- Ehrisman Residence 
-- Berrick Hall (must see) 
-- Bluff No. 68
-- Yamate Museum of Tennis 
-- Bluff No. 18 
-- Diplomat's House (must see -- I skipped on this tour, as I had been to this home previously)  

Access: 
JR Negishi line from Yokohama station, get off at Ishikawa-cho station. (6 minutes)
Maps at the station. 
Walk uphill to Yamate in 10 minutes. 

Helpful Sites: 

Main website (Japanese only) 

Walking tour map (Japanese - PDF - English maps are available inside the houses, just ask!)

English map showing sights in Yamate area (via Yokohama City - PDF)