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Classical romantic town that mingles East and West and past and present.
Kobe opened its port to the world in 1868 and became an important trade center for foreign countries. Under this circumstance, the Kobe Motomachi area was designated as a residential area for foreign traders. Massive neo-classical Western architecture from that time is well preserved, offering a western townscape in the middle of Japan.
In the area, there are many culturally significant historical properties, high-end brand stores, unique overseas retail shops, as well as a stylish café and adjacent knick-knack shops. The streets are beautifully illuminated at night, and located next to the sea the whole area offers a very romantic atmosphere.
The most attractive place of all is the Former Foreign Settlement 38-bankan. This building was constructed in 1929 as the National Citi Bank Kobe branch, and retains its architectural integrity today. Currently, the Daimaru department store uses it for their branch department store while keeping the old residential lot number, 38, in its name. The department store contains world famous luxury shops and plays a major role in the area’s sophisticated town walk.
The Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe with chic modern western buildings
Illuminated night scene in the Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe
Daimaru Kobe
Former Foreign Settlement 38-bankan
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This place not only has Western-style buildings and restaurants, but also shops that blend Japanese elements. It's a great spot to experience the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.
The architecture here is so different from Japanese style—it's just like the French Concession buildings in Shanghai and definitely worth seeing. It's really appealing for Taiwanese visitors and a great spot for photos!
It's similar to the old French Concession in Shanghai, where foreigners had extraterritorial rights. Many of the European-style layouts and Western buildings from that era are still preserved.
