This facility introduces literary figures and writers with ties to the local area since the meiji era, when kobe port became an international port. the building is the chapel of kwansei gakuin university, built in 1904 (meiji 37). it was damaged by air raids and other events and was converted into a library and other buildings. in 1993 (heisei 5), it was restored to its original appearance and opened as the kobe municipal oji citizens' gallery. in 2006 (heisei 12), it was reborn as the kobe literature museum. in 2008 (heisei 20), it was registered as a national tangible cultural property. in 2022 (reiwa 4), it celebrated its 120th anniversary since its dedication.