The Former Yokohama Rubber Memorial Hall of Hiratsuka (旧横浜ゴム平塚製造所記念館)

The Former Yokohama Rubber Memorial Hall of Hiratsuka (旧横浜ゴム平塚製造所記念館)

On the west side of the Shinto shrine of Hiratsuka Hachimangu Shrine is the Former Yokohama Rubber Memorial Hall of Hiratsuka (旧横浜ゴム平塚製造所記念館), more commonly known as Hachimanyama no Yokan (八幡山の洋館).

In 1905, the Imperial Japanese Navy along with three British companies, Armstrong, Nobel, and Chilworth (some sources say Vickers), formed a joint venture, the Japanese Explosives Company Limited, with its main office in London.  The company purchased a vast amount of land in the towns of Hiratsuka and Ono (both now part of the city of Hiratsuka) where they constructed ammunition plants along with other facilities.  According to the memorial hall's official website, it is said that this hall was built as an office or a residence of the chief manager from Britain.  However, their brochure explains it was built as a cafeteria and hall.  The building was destroyed by a fire in 1911 and rebuilt the following year.

In 1919, the Imperial Japanese Navy purchased the plants and, in April, formed the Naval Ammunitions Arsenal.  The building was used as the Yokosuka Suikosha Navy Officers' Club until August 1945 when World War II ended.

The building withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.  However, the fireplaces in each room were damaged and were not restored during restoration.

While most parts of the city of Hiratsuka were destroyed during the bombing on July 16, 1945, the building survived.  It was seized by the Occupation Forces after the war.

In 1950, the building was sold to Yokohama Rubber where it was used as a conference room facility.

In 2004, the building was donated to Hiratsuka and relocated to Hachimanyama Park (八幡山公園) where it currently stands.  It was also designated as a tangible cultural property by the Japanese government.

The site is also known for its rose garden.

The rose garden of the Former Yokohama Rubber Memorial Hall of Hiratsuka

Normal operating hours:
9:00 ~ 21:30
Closed on Monday (if Monday falls on a holiday, the hall will be open and will close on the closest following weekday) and December 29 ~ January 3