Kobe Muslim Mosque

It is a traditional Islamic temple and symbolizes the oriental atmosphere of Kobe as a cosmopolitan city.
It has a distinctive four spires and dome with a crescent moon at its apex.

Built in 1935 by Muslims living in Kobe, it has historical value as the first mosque in Japan.
It has survived major disasters such as the Kobe Air Raid and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and continues to exist today.

It is also a place where diplomats and businessmen visit to pray.

Non-Muslims are not required to visit the interior; men may use the first-floor prayer hall and women may use the second-floor prayer hall. However, if you wish to visit with a large group of people, you must contact the museum in advance. Also, please note that visitors are not allowed to enter the building if any skin is exposed (e.g., short pants or mini-skirts).

In addition, the Islamic Cultural Center adjacent to the mosque offers study sessions that are open to non-Muslims and provide basic knowledge of Islam to a wide range of people.

The plan to build a mosque in Japan was first proposed in Tokyo but was abandoned, and later the plan materialized in Kobe. The need for a mosque in Kobe was due to the increase in the number of Muslims during and after World War I. The plan was prompted by the arrival of an Indian trader in Japan, and was made possible by donations from Indians and the Kobe Turkish-Tatar Society.

Ferozuddin, one of the main financiers, contributed more than half of the funds, and the Ahmed Abdul Karim Brothers Company also made a major investment. Also contributing were the Tatars in Korea, the Egyptian consul in Kobe, Syrian merchants, and Egyptian consulate staff.

The construction of the mosque was designed in reinforced concrete. The foundation laying ceremony of the mosque took place in 1934, and the fact that Japan’s first mosque was built became known abroad.
In 1935, the mosque was completed and a dedication ceremony was held. Muslims from India, Russia, Germany, China, and other countries gathered for the ceremony, which also featured the first Friday prayer service.

The management of the mosque was specified as Sunna and Hanafi school, and the directors and auditors were chosen mainly from Indian and Tatar communities. A celebration was held near the mosque, with many blessings and speeches.

The mosque was temporarily seized by the Japanese Navy during the war, but it survived the Kobe Air Raid and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and still exists today.