Nanko-in (南湖院)

The Former First Hospital Building of Nanko-in

Koan Takata Monument

Nanko-in (南湖院), located in Chigasaki's Nango District in Kanagawa Prefecture, was a sanatorium founded in 1899 by Dr. Koan Takata (1861–1945). At its peak, it covered over 165,000 square meters and was considered the largest sanatorium in East Asia.

In May 1945, Nanko-in ceased its role as a tuberculosis sanatorium when it was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy. After World War II, the site was controlled by the US Forces from 1946 until 1957.

Hyotan-ike

In 1979, Junzo Takata, Koan's grandson, established Taiyo no Sato (太陽の郷), a retirement home, on the site. In December 2015, the northern part of the property, including the former First Hospital Building (第一病舎) and the Director's Office Building (院長室棟), was donated to Chigasaki City. This area reopened as the Nanko-in Memorial Taiyo no Sato Garden (南湖院記念 太陽の郷庭園) in April 2016.

The Koan Takata Monument (高田畊安碑) stands near a bottle-gourd-shaped pond called Hyotan-ike (ひょうたん池).

Former Director's Office Building

Depending on the season, the garden showcases cherry blossoms, Japanese plum blossoms, and wisteria.

Japanese plum blossoms at Nanko-in

In 2018, the Former First Hospital Building was designated as a cultural property by the Japanese government.

Former First Hospital Building

References:

• 茅ヶ崎太陽の郷. (n.d.). 太陽の郷広場 南湖院の歴史. 茅ヶ崎太陽の郷. https://www.taiyonosato.co.jp/nankoin/
• 文化庁. (n.d.). 旧南湖院第一病舎. 文化遺産オンライン. https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/428166