Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Kitano Ijinkan-Gai, located at a foothill in the southeastern coastal area near the Port of Kobe, was designated as a new settlement for overseas dwellers since the opening of the Port of Kobe in the mid-nineteenth century and attracted more and more Western merchants and diplomats, hence many western style buildings had been built.

Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Although some of them were destroyed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, the remaining ones still make the Kitano Ijinkan-Gai a historical block in Kobe. About 20 houses are now available for visiting, with dozens listed in the National Cultural Properties of Japan.

Must-See Houses in Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

1. Around the Bus Station 

English House: Must-go for Sherlock Holmes Fans

English House

Highlights: a British colonial style balcony; fabric ornaments by William Morris, the father of modern design; furniture and accessories of the 17th century Baroque to the 19th century Victorian era; a replica of Sherlock Holmes’s room appeared in the 20th work of the series.

Tip: You can borrow Holmes costumes and props for free at the entrance and dress up as Holmes to take photos inside. Don’t forget to return the costumes when you leave.

Yokan Nagaya: Twin Buildings for Two Families

Highlights: a Louis Vuitton antique trunk made in the late 19th century; Art Nouveau glass works; furniture from the Napoleonic period (1799-1815).

Ben’s House: Collection of Rare Animal Specimens

Highlights: giant specimens of a solar bear, American bison, and many other animals.

Kobe Trick Art Museum: The Most Entertaining and Interactive Place Here

Highlight: Six areas were designed with optical illusion paintings in different themes, accessible by tourists to be part of a painting and take fabulous photos.

2. To the West of the Bus Station

Weathercock House: Cock Shaped Wind Vane as Symbol

Highlights: bright brick-red appearance; cock shaped wind vane; various heavy wooden furniture 

Moegi House: All Light Green Appearance

Highlights: two different forms of bay window; Arabic style steps in vine patterns; different fireplaces in every room; overlook of the street view from the second-floor balcony.

Moegi House

Weathercock House

3. Up the Ramp

Uroko House: The First House Open to the Public

Highlights: fish scales-like exterior slates; display of Western royal porcelain; handmade glassware exhibitions; view of the Port of Kobe from the third floor; a “Calydonian Boar” in the garden, a little pig stands for happiness and believed to bring you good luck if you touch its snout.

Tip: An observation gallery next to Uroko House exhibits certain modern Japanese paintings, accessible with the same ticket used for Uroko House.

Yamate 8-Bankan: Collection of Various Statues

Highlights: bay windows in three rows; a “Saturn’s chair” for wish-making by women sitting on the right and men on the left; a Thai Buddhist statue; a Makonde statue from East Africa; and many other master sculptures.

Foreigner's Association: Members Club at That Time

Highlights: an uncommonly-seen servant room in a Western house; copper cookware from the era using firewood and charcoal; a music room with a wooden fireplace from the Bourbon era; a horse carriage from 1890 in the garden

Hilltop House, Former Chinese Consulate: The Only Oriental-style House for Visiting

Highlights: furniture and accessories from 1368 to 1911; both ancient and contemporary Chinese paintings 

Other Sites to Go in Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Kitano Tenman Shrine: a hilltop shrine especially worshipped by students since it enshrines the God of learning.

An antique-style Starbucks converted from an old American mansion, with classic Starbucks color in green and white.

Kitano Tenman Shrine

Starbucks in Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Opening Time

Oct. 1 – Mar. 31: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Apr. 1 – Sep. 30: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm

Admission Fee

Houses	Single Ticket	Discount Pass
English House	JPY880	JPY1,540	JPY3,300
Yokan Nagaya	JPY550
Ben’s House	JPY550
Uroko House	JPY1,100	JPY2,200
Yamate 8-Bankan	JPY550
Foreigner's Assoc.	JPY550
Hilltop House	JPY550
Kobe Trick	JPY880	/
Weathercock House	JPY400	JPY650
Moegi House	JPY400

Useful Tips

1. Buy a 3-house-pass including English House, Yokan Nagaya, and Ben’s House if your time or physical energy is limited. These three houses are opposite the bus station and next to each other, taking about 1 hour to visit all.

Stroll in Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

2. Buy a 7-house-pass including three houses mentioned above and four houses up the ramp if you are highly interested and plan to stay long. It takes at least 3 hours, and visiting the four houses uphill is physically challenging.

3. If you don’t want to crowd with other tourists, it is advisable to pick one or two houses appealing to you and then find a nearby street to stroll towards the port with fewer people. The high terrain allows you to walk while enjoying the attractive views of the street and the harbor. 

4. After buying tickets, you can get a site map, but the official stamp collection book is only provided for 7-house-pass buyers. 

How to Get to Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Step 1: Take a subway to Kobe-Sannomiya Station.
Step 2: 
a. By Walk: Exit from the A11 exit and head to the northwest for about 1 km. It takes about 17 min.
b. By Bus: Take the City Loop Bus from CL7- Sannomiya Station (for North) to CL10- Kitano Ijinkan. It takes about 10 min and JPY260 for a single ride.

Bus Schedule	Usual Day	Weekend
First Bus	9:00 am	8:50 pm
Last Bus	7:05 am	7:30 pm
Interval	35 min for the first two departures and 10-15 min for later ones	25 min for the first three departures and 10-15 min for later ones