Kobe

Chinatown

南京町, nankinmachi

The original settlement of Chinese merchants. Today, it is rather touristy though it offers some "Japanized" versions of Chinese food such as pork buns (豚饅頭 buta-manjū, more often buta-man). Its architecture is still rather pleasant though.

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

白鶴酒造資料館, hakutsuru shuzōshiryōkan

This museum is inside a former brewery, and features traditional tools, dioramas and English-language videos to explain the sake-making processes. At the end, you can sample some sake, which is non-pasteurized, presumably because it doesn't have to travel far from the factory. Write your name on a piece of paper provided by the guard and return that at the end.

09:30-16:30, closed Mon·Free entry, free sake

Hamafukutsuru-Ginjo Brewery and Shop

浜福鶴吟醸工房

Offers factory tours, rather than just a museum. Can watch actual processes from behind glass walls.

Tue–Sun 10:00-17:00 (closed Mon)

Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum

菊正宗酒造記念館, "Kiku-Masamune Shuzo Kinenkan"

Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum is the only facility that exhibits "Sake brewing utensils of Nada" which are Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. It is a museum of Sake that tells you the secret of traditional sake brewing techniques of the Tanba region. You can also try tasting different kinds of sake here for free. There will be a guide to take you though the museum and present the history of a prestigious "Sake of Nada" brewer.

09:30-16:30 (Entry until 16:00)·Free

Kitano Ijinkan

異人館

Kōbe's main attractions are the Ijinkan (foreign houses). These are 19th-century residences of Kobe's foreign traders, clustered in the Kitano area.

Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum

神戸華僑歴史博物館

A museum about the many Chinese merchants and tradespeople who settled in Kobe following the opening of the Port of Kobe to foreigners in 1868.

Wed-Sat 10:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30·Adults ¥300, seniors ¥200

Kobe Port Tower

Built in 1962, it is the world's first sightseeing tower with a pipe structure. The unofficial symbol of the city. 108 m tall. 5 levels of observatories.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥700

Kyu-kyoryuchi

旧居留地

This is where foreign consulates and trading companies built their offices. Several 19th-century buildings have been converted into restaurants and shops. Notable buildings include Chartered Square, once the Chartered Bank branch and the 15th Building (十五番館), once the American consulate. The area is also packed full of high-fashion boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Fendi.

Sawa-no-Tsuru Museum

沢の鶴資料館

This museum is probably the best of the bunch, with an informative multi-level exhibit partly labelled in English, and a well-stocked gift shop

10:00-16:00, closed Wed·Free entry and free sake

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

竹中大工道具館

A very nice exploration of hand carpentry tools, from the stone axes of Jomon age to the Western influenced tools of yesterday. Hands-on exhibits and English language descriptions make this a pleasant place to spend the afternoon.

Closed · opens 9:30 am·¥300

Tetsujin 28 statue

Kobe project

A 18-m-tall statue of a manga robot that was built to help rebuild the Nagata ward of Kobe both financially and morally after the great earthquake. The Nagata ward was one of the worst-hit areas and the character of the statue has a long history to Japan as a whole and specifically this area.

Kobe Maritime Museum

神戸海洋博物館 "Kobe Kaiyo Hakubutsukan"

Exhibits rich history of the port city with many photos, artifacts, models and some actual ships. Also houses Kawasaki World, a corporation museum for the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (no additional fees).

Adult ¥900, High School student or lower ¥400

Observation deck on the 24th Floor of Kobe City Hall

Offers nice bay and mountain views of Kobe.

Mon-Fri 08:15-22:00; Sat Sun holiday 10:00-22:00·Free

Weathercock House

One of the most-often photographed houses among the Ijinkan.