About
Leaving behind the bustle of Ikebukuro and walking through a quiet residential area, you come upon an elegant building surrounded by a lush, green lawn. This is the former school building of a girls’ school founded in 1921, which is now designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a master of modern architecture, and is characterized by its use of geometric patterns throughout the design. The U-shaped building encloses a lawn at its center, creating a tranquil atmosphere that makes it hard to believe you are still in Ikebukuro.
At the center of the building is a spacious dining hall. As its name suggests, when the school was in operation, all the students would gather here to eat, and it is said that students on duty would prepare lunch themselves in the kitchen located downstairs. Today, there is a café corner, and if you choose the café-included tour, you can enjoy baked sweets and drinks here. Spending a relaxing time in the dining hall, imagining the lives of the schoolgirls of the past as you enjoy tea time, is a unique pleasure.
The building features a low, horizontally extending roof, a spatial composition where rooms are connected with slightly varying floor heights, and geometric decorative fittings—elements of the “Prairie Style” seen in Wright’s early residential works. It was designed based on the founder’s wish “to fill a simple exterior with outstanding thought.” Entering from the entrance beside the hall, you are surprised by how much more spacious and open the interior feels compared to the impression from outside. By intentionally keeping the ceilings at the entrance and corridors low, the sense of space is further emphasized.
The auditorium on the south side of the grounds was designed by Arata Endo and completed in 1927. As the number of students increased and the hall in the central building became too small, the area that had been used as a tennis court was repurposed for its construction. Today, the auditorium is used for a wide range of events, including concerts, lectures, and weddings.
This building survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake and air raids during World War II. Over eighty years, it became noticeably aged, but its historical and artistic value was recognized, and in 1997 it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. After preservation and repair work, it is now open to the public for tours. Admission for a tour only is 500 yen, while a tour with café service is 800 yen. Additionally, on the third Friday of every month, night tours are held, allowing visitors to enjoy a different atmosphere from the daytime.
This place is a precious space where history and culture are alive, offering visitors tranquility and peace. It is the perfect place to forget the hustle and bustle of Ikebukuro and spend a leisurely time.