Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium (Ship Gymnasium)
Quick Facts
- Location
- Japan
- Category
- Square & Landmark
- Duration
- 10-20 min for an outside look
- Opening Hours
- Daily Closed · Closed since September 2014; demolition began in April 2026 and runs to September 2027. The fenced site is off limits and can only be glimpsed from surrounding streets
- Ticket Price
- Free Admission: Not an operating venue, no admission · No entry, tours or sports since closure; do not enter the fenced works
- Address
- 2-1-1 Fukuokacho, Takamatsu, Kagawa 760-0065, Japan (former site)
- Coordinates
- 34.3361, 134.0469
Introduction
Important: this venue closed in September 2014 and demolition began in April 2026, scheduled to run until September 2027. It is not open to visitors, the site is fenced off, and entry is not possible. The former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium was designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1964; its sweeping suspended roof, resembling a traditional Japanese boat, earned it the local name Ship Gymnasium. To create a vast column-free interior, Tange used an advanced cable-suspended roof structure, and the building is regarded as a landmark of postwar Japanese modernism alongside his later Yoyogi National Gymnasium and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It hosted sport and civic events for half a century before ageing and seismic concerns shut it in 2014. Kagawa Prefecture decided on demolition in 2023, and the prefectural assembly approved a contract of about 847 million yen in December 2025. A citizens' committee has proposed buying and converting the building into a hotel using private funds, gathered tens of thousands of signatures, and filed a residents' suit at the Takamatsu District Court to halt the public spending; the dispute continues. A visit today is closer to a lesson in architectural heritage: only a fragment of the silhouette shows above the hoardings, alongside an unresolved public argument over whether a world-class building should be erased.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Closed since September 2014; demolition began in April 2026 and runs to September 2027. The fenced site is off limits and can only be glimpsed from surrounding streets
Ticket Information
| Free Admission | Not an operating venue, no admission |
|---|
No entry, tours or sports since closure; do not enter the fenced works
Transportation
Walk south-west from Kotoden Kawaramachi or JR Takamatsu into a residential district
The site is a demolition zone with works traffic; view only from public streets
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium (Ship Gymnasium)?
Monday: Closed; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: Closed; Friday: Closed; Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Closed; Closed since September 2014; demolition began in April 2026 and runs to September 2027. The fenced site is off limits and can only be glimpsed from surrounding streets
How much is the admission for Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium (Ship Gymnasium)?
Free Admission: Not an operating venue, no admission; No entry, tours or sports since closure; do not enter the fenced works
How long should I spend at Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium (Ship Gymnasium)?
A typical visit takes 10-20 min for an outside look.
How do I get to Former Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium (Ship Gymnasium)?
Subway: Walk south-west from Kotoden Kawaramachi or JR Takamatsu into a residential district
