Visit The 80-Year Old Muslim Mosque in Kobe, Japan's First

As a prominent port city for international trade, Kobe is a place where various cultures intersect. However, it is not well-known that the first Muslim mosque in Japan was built in Kobe. Today, we will introduce the Kobe Muslim Mosque, which has amassed history and cultural prominence over the long years.

The History of the Kobe Muslim Mosque

Picture courtesy of Pixta

The Kobe Muslim Mosque, the first mosque in Japan, was built in 1935 through the donations of the neighborhood Muslim community, which consisted of Indians, Tatars and Turks. It has survived air raids during the War in the Pacific as well as the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, and the original building is intact even today.

There is a picture that is hung in the entryway of the mosque. It depicts Kobe in June 1945, after an air raid.

The Beautiful Mosque and Its Interior

Picture courtesy of Pixta

The gorgeous construction of the Muslim Mosque is on display in Kobe’s Chūō district in the Kitano area. The tower with the balcony located to the upper-right is called a ‘minaret,’ and announces calls to worship, as well as serving as an exterior decoration. You can also see the mosque’s ‘dome’ to the upper left. The above photo was taken from the mosque’s eastern parking lot.

Picture courtesy of Pixta

At the mosque, worship services are held five times a day. Typically there 10 to 20 participants, and it is said that on Friday afternoons, 150 to 200 people join the service. The reason is that until Muslim houses of worship were established in Kyoto and Osaka, worshippers came from all over Kansai to pray at this mosque.

The Worship Hall, With Glittering Chandeliers

When you enter the worship hall, you will see an extravagant chandelier, beautiful carpeting, and simple stained glass windows, uniform in their amber tint. The majestic atmosphere formed by the geometrically-designed ornamentation, which originates from Islam’s ban on idol worship, will surely take any visitor’s breath away.

Muslim tourists can join the prayer service. There are clean carpets available for use during prayer, but when coming in a large group, it is advisable to contact the mosque by phone beforehand. The mosque is also used for wedding ceremonies and other functions by Muslims who reside in Japan.

The Library in the Mosque

There is a library set up inside the mosque, with Arabic publications lining the shelves. The book collection also has Japanese-language texts about Islam.

Taking a Trip to the Mosque

Of course, non-Muslims are welcome to tour the premises. For a small group (two or three people), making a reservation is not necessary. Simply go into the building through the entryway on the left-hand side, and talk to the person at the counter about a tour.

For larger groups, please make a reservation by phone beforehand (078-231-6060). Japanese explanations are available by request. Note that there are no tours from Friday morning until 1:30 PM, regardless of group size. Tour times can change slightly depending on season, so please check the homepage or make a phone call to get confirmation before your visit.

Also, as written on the website Please refrain from wearing shorts, miniskirts or revealing clothing. Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for female visitors to wear scarves to cover their hair, but if you can make the arrangements, we recommend wearing one.

For foreign Muslims, the mosque is a house of prayer, and it is also a place for residents of Japan to connect with Islamic culture without needing to travel to a faraway country. How about making a visit to the Kobe Muslim Mosque?

Information

Kobe Muslim Mosque

Address: Hyogo, Kobe, Chūō-ku, Yamate-dōri, 2-25-14
Operating hours: 10:00-17:00（changes slightly by season）
Holidays: None
Wi-Fi access: None
Accepted credit cards: None
Foreign language support: Japanese and English
Foreign language menus: None
Closest station: Sannomiya (JR/Hankyū/Hanshin/Municipal Subway)
Access: 10 minutes’ walk from the Yamate exit of Sannomiya Station
Price range: N/A
Religion: Islam
Phone number: +81-078-231-6060
Official homepage: Kobe Muslim Mosque