Ichizō Kobayashi Memorial Hall

The Ichizo Kobayashi Memorial Hall is a museum dedicated to Ichizo Kobayashi, one of the founders of Hankyu Corporation and the man behind the Takarazuka Revue and Hankyu Department Store. It uses the Western-style residence “Gazoku Sanso,” where Kobayashi once lived, together with the later-added “Hakubaikan,” as its museum facilities. “Gazoku Sanso,” a reinforced-concrete structure blending Japanese and Western styles, features a half-timber exterior, Tudor-style interiors, and a Japanese-style tiled roof; it was built in 1937. The design was handled by Risuke Kobayashi, who worked for Takenaka Corporation. Originally, from 1957, “Gazoku Sanso” served as the Itsuo Art Museum (named after Kobayashi’s pen name, Itsuo), but in 2010 it was reborn as the Ichizo Kobayashi Memorial Hall. Within the museum, five sites are registered as National Registered Tangible Cultural Properties: “Gazoku Sanso,” the tea rooms “Soku-an” and “Hiiin,” the nagaya-mon gate, and the surrounding wall. Part of “Gazoku Sanso” operates as a French restaurant, so it’s also recommended to reserve in advance for lunch or dinner. The Itsuo Art Museum, which exhibits early-modern paintings and ceramics, has moved to a location about 50 meters away, so consider visiting both together.