Opulent Marble Mansion Interior Design
Lavish marble mansion interior showcasing ornate classical design and breathtaking sunset views.

The Abandoned Marugen Mansion

Mad jaunt to the abandoned art warehouse of a real-estate magnate overtaken by greed.

The palatial Marugen Mansion is sited on a beautiful mountainside with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, less than two hours from Tokyo. One of many Marugen buildings, it’s owned by industrialist Genjiro Kawamoto. He used the mansion to store works of art.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

Unscrupulous real-estate magnate

Kawamoto is a billionaire who made his fortune renting out buildings, making vast profits as property prices soared at a time of economic boom.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

At the height of his career, Kawamoto owned up to 60 buildings in Ginza, Atami and Kokura (his hometown). He was nicknamed “the construction king of Ginza”. Although a billionaire, he was also known for his stinginess and extreme reluctance to spend anything on the maintenance and management of his properties.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

Most of the Marugen properties were built between the 1960s and 1980s, when seismic standards were not yet in effect. The buildings have aged without being upgraded, tenants have left, some have been sold or demolished.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

Kuwamoto also seemed unusually keen on saving money, especially on his taxes. His greed finally got the better of him.

Fall of the miserly billionaire

In 2013, he was arrested by the Tokyo prosecutor’s office for concealing 2.8 billion yen from the authorities, evading more than 800 million yen in taxes. During the trial he denied all the charges, claiming: “It’s just bullshit.”

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

In 2016, he was convicted, along with the Marugen company as a legal entity, for violating the Fire Services Act by failing to comply with the order to upgrade fire protection systems in two buildings in Kitakyushu city.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

In 2018, Kuwamoto was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 240 million yen. He appealed, the trial was prolonged, but finally in January 2021 the Supreme Court rejected his appeal. Now 88, he will have to serve his prison sentence.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

There are still four Marugen buildings in Atami, numbered 58 to 61. The latter is the billionaire’s “art warehouse”. As in a museum, you’ll find many collectables: statues, paintings, high-end furniture.

Marugen Mansion
Marugen Mansion

The buildings have been securely locked to deter thieves as well as … curious kids. 🤗

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Lost in time on this charming street, where history, traditional architecture, and stunning nature merge beautifully. Discover the heart of Japan’s ceramic artistry and its serene beauty.---歴史、伝統的な建築、そして美しい自然が見事に調和するこの魅力的な通りで、時を忘れる。日本の陶芸とその静かな美しさを発見してみてください。---#ceramics #history #traditionaljapan #architecture #nature #offbeatjapan #japan
Step through the iconic red torii gate into a serene, sacred space where nature and spirituality meet in harmony, a beautiful embodiment of Japan's Shinto traditions. 🌿🇯🇵 #NatureLovers --- 赤い鳥居をくぐり、自然と精神性が調和する静かな聖域へ。日本の神道の伝統を美しく体現しています。🌿🇯🇵 #自然愛好家--- #offbeatjapan #japan #shinto #torii #sacredspace #nature #spirituality #forestpath
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Beneath the delicate sakura blooms along this tranquil canal, one can feel the essence of Japan's Hanami festival, cherishing the fleeting beauty of spring. 🌸✨ここでは、穏やかな川沿いに咲く繊細な桜の下で、春の一瞬の美を祝う日本の花見祭りの本質を感じることができます。🌸✨#cherryblossom #hanami #sakura #springinjapan #offbeatjapan #japan #bloom🌸
Witness Tokyo's dazzling evening skyline with Mount Fuji's silhouette gracing the horizon—a perfect blend of urban energy and natural beauty. 🌆🌸---富士山のシルエットが地平線を飾る、東京の華やかな夜景の眺め。都市のエネルギーと自然の美しさが見事に調和しています。🌆🌸---#TokyoNights #MountFuji #CityscapeLove #JapanViews #UrbanBeauty #OffbeatJapan #Japan
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Nature’s perfect harmony: Shiraito Falls with Mount Fuji’s majestic presence peeking through the clouds, surrounded by vivid autumn colors. 🍁🏞️自然の完璧な調和:雲の間から覗く壮大な富士山を背景に、鮮やかな秋の色に包まれた白糸の滝。🍁🏞️#ShiraitoFalls #FujiFiveLakes #MountFuji #JapanNature #AutumnInJapan #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Under the glow of Tokyo's vibrant night sky, the city blends tradition with modernity, as lights from towering skyscrapers and bustling streets tell their stories.---東京の輝く夜空の下で、伝統と現代が調和し、高層ビルと賑やかな通りの光がそれぞれの物語を語ります。---#TokyoNights #Cityscape #UrbanGlow #TravelJapan #OffbeatJapan #ExploreMore #Japan #夜景