Yoshida Dormitory Online Exhibition Projects

Kyoto University’s Yoshida Dormitory is the oldest existing student dormitory in Japan, tracing its origins back to the "Third Higher Middle School Dormitory" built in 1889.

The dormitory complex consists of three buildings: the Main Building (constructed in 1913), the Dining Hall (built in 1889 and renovated in 2015), and the New Building (constructed in 2015). The Main Building, in particular, is of significant architectural value; both the Architectural History Society of Japan and the Kinki Chapter of the Architectural Institute of Japan have issued formal requests for its preservation.

A defining feature of the Yoshida Dormitory is its system of "self-governance" by the residents. This tradition has deep historical roots, dating back to the university’s first president, Hiroji Kinoshita, who recognized the importance of institutional autonomy.

This exhibition presents photographs capturing the history and the changing seasonal landscapes of the Yoshida Dormitory, alongside materials detailing the current state of its self-governance. We invite you to take a look.