Former foreign settlement

In Kobe, there was a foreign settlement where foreigners were able to live with extraterritorial rights etc. from 1868 to 1899. This area was constructed by design to be surrounded by rivers in the east and west, and the sea in the south. So overseas newspapers said that this was the most well-designed foreign settlement in the East. The foreign settlement was in the area around the current station in front of the former foreign settlement and Daimaru on Kobe Municipal subway Kaigan Line. Now it's known as the former foreign settlement area. Rebuilt buildings of that time, stylish cafes, and variety shops can be seen here.

(Source: LOCO / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

Jyugobankan: a nostalgic structure

Jyugobankan was built in 1880 and was used as an American Embassy. It completely collapsed in the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. However, it was rebuilt with original materials and assembled in the same way as an old one. So it was rebuilt having its original appearance from the 1880s.

(Source: 近代文化遺産見学案内所)

Sanjyuhachibankan : a massive, stately building

Sanjyuhachibankan was built in the American Renaissance style in 1929. At that time, Citybank Kobe branch and other foreign companies had their office in the building. Now it's used as a part of Daimaru department store in Kobe next to the building.

(Source: 神戸観光壁紙写真集)

Kobe City Museum: feel the history since the settlement period

The theme of Kobe City Museum is international cultural exchanges. It was built in a neoclassicism style in 1935 and is one of the registered tangible cultural properties in Japan. The museum has a wide collection from old maps, a sculpture made by Rodin, to works of artists associated with Kobe. You can feel the history of Kobe which had active interactions with overseas countries through the ages.