Albert Einstein stayed in this building for two nights during his 1922 lecture tour of Japan.
The building was designed to accommodate high-level business executives and guests of the Mitsui conglomerate.
It is a rare surviving example of the European-style half-timbered construction techniques imported to Japan in the early 20th century.
The interior contains a permanent exhibit dedicated to the life and works of Albert Einstein.
The structure was dismantled and meticulously reassembled at its present location to save it from urban development.
The Old Moji Mitsui Club is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan, originally constructed in 1921 as a social club for the Mitsui Bussan company. The building features an early 20th-century half-timbered architectural style with prominent white-and-brown exterior accents. It gained historical significance for hosting Albert Einstein and his wife during their 1922 visit to Japan, with their former guest room preserved on the second floor. The interior showcases period-accurate furnishings and wood-paneled detailing representative of the Taisho era. It currently serves as a tourist facility within the Mojiko Retro district. The structure was relocated from its original site to its current location in 1990 to preserve it as part of the local historical heritage. It sits directly across from the Mojiko Retro sightseeing area's main promenade.
From the front exterior lawn to capture the full symmetrical facade and the distinct half-timbering.
Visit the second floor specifically to view the preserved Einstein memorial room.
Combine your visit with a walking tour of the nearby Mojiko Retro district buildings.
Look for the authentic Taisho-era furniture preserved in the reading and social rooms.
Do not overlook the small exhibit on the ground floor, as many visitors focus only on the Einstein room upstairs.
Closed for maintenance on irregular dates; typically remains open throughout the year but checks are advised before public holidays.
Remove shoes before entering the carpeted exhibition rooms; do not touch the preserved historical artifacts.
