カトリック宝塚教会

Have you heard of a church shaped like a whale? Here in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, the Takarazuka Catholic Church is just that. This unique building, part of the Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu, is often called “the church of the white whale”. Its architect, Togo Murano, designed it to resemble a whale swimming through the sky. The wavy roof forms the body, and the spire becomes its tail. The church, completed in 1965, isn’t just visually striking. It also holds symbolic meaning. Inside, the curved ceiling creates a space likened to a whale’s stomach. This evokes the biblical story of Jonah, who prayed inside a large fish. The experience of being within this space is described as being reborn. Togo Murano, baptized at 89, designed many modernist buildings. He clearly had a special connection with this church, calling it a “safe haven” in his notes. While the church is undergoing renovations and temporarily closed, it’s worth visiting when it reopens. You can find it a short walk from Takarazuka-minamiguchi Station on the Hankyu Line. Experience this unique space, a testament to Murano’s vision, where architecture and faith intertwine. The Takarazuka Catholic Church is more than just a building. It’s a sanctuary, shaped like a whale, waiting to embrace you with its story.