Situated
mere 15 minutes away from Sannomiya station, the Kitano Ijinkan, or Foreign
Residences, are the beautifully-preserved houses of well-off foreign traders
and diplomats who lived in Kobe city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
There are many stylish stores and restaurant in the area around those homes
that makes the area one of the iconic attractions in the city today.
We're here to visit two of the most popular houses the Weathercok House and the Moegi House.
The Weathercock
House, built in 1904 by German architect Georg de Lalande, is the most iconic
house of this area. Houses using bricks were quite rare for personal houses at
that time.
Kitano Ijinkan Official website: http://www.kobe-kazamidori.com
Next, walking up the Moegi House.
Built in 1903 for home of Hunter Sharp, this house is colourful and fabulous inside and out.
Gracious German dining room and furniture. The interiors give you insight into how they lived back in 1900s.
The enclosed balcony on the second floor offers a great view of Kobe city.
Kitano
Ijinkan has a lot more foreign houses. You’ll learn about intriguing
history of Kobe where has been much influenced by foreign cultures. Shops, restaurants and even Starbucks coffee are very stylish! This area would not be a must-visit place but paying a visit and learning Kobe's history is pretty worthwhile.
Moegi House (Moegi no Yakata)
Admission: 300 yen
Location: 3-10-11 Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Website: http://www.ijinkan.net/ijinkan/moeginoyakata.html (Japanese)
This article is contributed by students at a university in Kobe.