The surrounding area of Ijinkan-gai is extremely beautiful. Buildings are all well preserved and organized. Good spots for taking picture.. It's even better visiting during low season when it's not packed with tourists.. More

This former foreign enclave whose history goes back to a time when foreigners were only allowed to live in specific cities and neighborhoods in Japan is an interesting walk for someone in Kobe with some extra time on their hands. It is MUCH more famous for Japanese tourists and they make up the bulk of the visitors to these Victorian... More

For Europeans it might look funny that they keep quite average, even small, by Euro-standards resident-houses as museums. But those places are not standard for Japan, also particulary in Kobe they play a hystorical role as first foreign residents/embassies houses after centuries of the isolation of the country. The area is on the hills, with very narrow streets, might be... More

Kobe was one of the ports that was open to foreign trade during the Meiji era, and owes lot of its current cosmopolitan vibe to those roots. The houses that were built for foreign consuls and dignitaries were built according to their own culture and preferences and are an interesting comparison to the Japanese houses around them. The houses close... More