Junior High Students Only Explore Koshien Kaikan a Nishinomiya Morning Drama Filming Location for Free Apply by 3/20

“Wait, open campus starts from junior high!?”

This time, Mukogawa Women’s University Kamikoshien Campus is hosting an open campus on Saturday, March 22, exclusively for junior high school students and their guardians, as well as teachers.

Here it is↓

Only the first 40 people can join, and participation is free. A chance to experience serious “architecture” sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it?

Explore Koshien Kaikan, a filming location for “Manpuku”

Mukogawa Women’s University’s School of Architecture may not be as well known as you’d expect.

With features like spacious drafting areas and fully equipped computers, current students also say “the facilities are amazing.” For parents, it’s also a chance to ask students and teachers directly, “What is working in architecture really like?” It feels like a pretty rare opportunity for junior high school students to experience the atmosphere of a university.

Koshien Kaikan Former Koshien Hotel Tour

Koshien Kaikan Former Koshien Hotel, which was used as a filming location for the morning drama “Manpuku.” Did you know that for fans who visit buildings designed by Arata Endo, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the three great masters of modern architecture, this place is almost like sacred ground?

Originally built in the early Showa period as “Koshien Hotel,” the building has a solid, imposing feel. The moment you see it, it has that retro power that makes you go, “Whoa!” It’s the kind of building that makes you say, “Wow!” Did you know it was here in Nishinomiya?

Schedule for the day↓

📍 13:00 Opening and general explanation
🔨 13:10 Design exercise “Creating a large roof with hinoki cypress sticks”※Architecture students will support participants!
☕ 14:20 Break a quick breather♪
🏛️ 14:35 Campus tour touring the Showa-retro Koshien Kaikan and the latest architecture studios
📝 15:45 Questionnaire
👋 16:00 Closing

Here it is on the map↓

The address is 1-13 Tosaki-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo.

Access is about a 10-minute walk from JR Koshienguchi Station! From Hanshin Koshien Station, it’s about 6 minutes by bus plus a 3-minute walk. It’s an easy place to get to for Nishinomiya residents. If you use JR, it’s convenient from other areas too.

※If there are many participants, the event will be held in two groups

Applications are open until tomorrow, Thursday, March 20!

Registration closes once the 40-person capacity is reached. If you know a junior high school student who might be even a little interested, please give them a gentle push. Male students can participate too. You can also go together with friends.

Click here for the application form

Or scan the QR code above with your smartphone, fill in the required information, and submit it. You’ll receive the event details by email.

Here are the key points

1. A special experience only for junior high school students
   Open campuses for high school students and older are common, but one focused on “junior high school students only” is rare!
2. Design workshop creating a large roof with hinoki cypress sticks
   Architecture students will support participants as they get hands-on experience with making things. You can also see classrooms with a layout that’s rare even nationwide.
3. Tour the historic Showa-era architectural landmark “Koshien Hotel Koshien Kaikan”
   An incredibly valuable building designed by Arata Endo, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright. It was also a filming location for the morning drama “Manpuku,” and it’s designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan… architecture fans shouldn’t miss it.
4. Male students can participate too
   Since Mukogawa Women’s University is a women’s university, you might think, “Are boys not allowed?” But junior high school boys can participate. Joining with friends is OK too!

For junior high school students, getting to tour the stunning Koshien Hotel seems like an experience that would truly spark their curiosity and imagination. I’d personally love to see it at least once too.

Finally

The former Koshien Hotel is surprisingly close, but you can’t just go inside anytime. This rare experience is open only to junior high school students, and it might even open up a whole new path for the future. Since the application deadline is coming up soon, if you’re interested, apply right now.