NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo -- A building cherished for generations stands in this western Japan city overlooking the Rokko mountain range. Mukogawa Women's University's Koshien Hall, formerly the Koshien Hotel, was designed by Arata Endo (1889-1951), a protege of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959). It was once said that Japan had "the Imperial Hotel in the east and the Koshien Hotel in the west."

Completed in 1930, the building operated as a hotel for 14 years, flourishing as a social venue for members of the Imperial Family and prominent figures in political and business circles. Babe Ruth is also said to have stayed at the hotel during a U.S.-Japan exhibition baseball tour. During World War II, the building was requisitioned for use as a naval hospital. After the war, it was converted into officers' quarters for the Allied occupation forces. In 1965, the national government transferred the property to Mukogawa Women's University, and it became part of the university's campus.

The Western-style building is distinguished by its highly original, dynamically articulated form. It skillfully incorporates Japanese elements, including green-glazed roof tiles and reliefs depicting the "uchide no kozuchi," a magic mallet that appears in Japanese folklore. It is regarded as a leading example of "Hanshinkan Modernism," a style seen in the region between Osaka and Kobe.

Shell-shaped light fixtures hang in the lobby, giving the space a stately yet relaxing atmosphere. The west hall on the first floor is said to have once hosted formal dances and still evokes the glamour of the era.

Today, Koshien Hall is a living teaching resource that conveys its history while providing architecture students with a place to refine their aesthetic sensibilities.

(Japanese original by Takashi Murata)

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The Japanese version of this article was originally published on March 23, 2025.

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This series explores Japan's architectural wonders and secrets of yesteryear. Read more Retro Japan articles here.