Kobe Trip Part 2: Chinatown and Former Foreign Settlement etc.

[Introduction]

I traveled to Kobe in early March. In Kobe, major tourist spots such as bay area, Kitano Ijinkan-gai and Chinatown were concentrated, which was convenient for tourists. In this article, I will write about Chinatown and Former Foreign Settlement etc. as part of Day 1.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Fly to Kobe with Skymark
* Day 1: Chinatown and Former Foreign Settlement etc. [This article]
* Day 1: Meriken Park and Harborland
* Day 1: Meriken Park and Harborland (Light-up)
* Day 2: Kitano Ijinkan-gai
* Day 2: Ikuta Shrine, Nunobiki Herb Gardens etc.
* Day 2: Kobe Great Bridge (Light-up)
* Day 3: Kobe Oji Zoo
* Day 3: Kobe Animal Kingdom
* Day 3: Chinatown and Old Foreign Settlement (Light-up)
* Day 4: Himeji Castle
* Day 4: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
* Day 4: Sannomiya

[Travel Date]
2018.03.08 – 11

[Main Part]

Following the previous post, I checked in some of my luggage to Kobe Motomachi Tokyu Rei Hotel where I will be staying and went around the neighborhood.

Chinatown (南京町 Nankinmachi)

First, I visited “Nankinmachi (南京町)”, which is one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan along with “Yokohama Chinatown” and “Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown”. “Choan-mon gate (長安門)” in Nankinmachi (南京町) is located adjacent to Kobe Motomachi Tokyu Rei Hotel.

Not all of the shops were open as it was before 10 a.m., but I will walk around the chinatown.

“Nankinmachi Square (南京町広場)”, the landmark of the chinatown.

I found a apparel store which had a figure of Bruce Lee.

Kobe is known for its Kobe beef, so I would like to have it sometime during my trip.

There were several famous restaurants in Nankinmachi (南京町) and “Roushouki (老祥記)” is one of such restaurants.

“Roushouki (老祥記)” is said to be the birthplace of “豚まん (Butaman – Pork Bun)”.

Kobe Former Foreign Settlement (神戸旧外国人居留地)

I left Nankinmachi (南京町) and moved to “Kobe Former Foreign Settlement (神戸旧外国人居留地)”. Kobe Former Foreign Settlement was a former foreign settlement that was established along with the opening of Kobe Port in 1868. It was returned to the Japanese Government in 1899, but the area has been developed as a business district.

There are lots of modern Western buildings in Kobe Former Foreign Settlement and I will go around the area to see its historic scenery.

To begin with, “Former Foreign Settlement Lot 38 (旧居留地38番館)”, which was located adjacent to Daimaru (大丸) department store.

Meikai Buikding (明海ビル).

Kenryu Building (建隆ビル), which had an interior shops “BoConcept”.

The former American consulate at No. 15 (旧神戸居留地十五番館).

Kobe Asahi Building (神戸朝日ビルディング).

Takasago Building (高砂ビル).

Kobe East Park (東遊園地) etc.

I moved to “Kobe East Park (東遊園地)”.

Kobe East Park (東遊園地) is the first Western style athletic park in Japan, which was opened in 1868.

Kobe East Park (東遊園地) is known as the venue of “Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ)”, a famous light festival held in Kobe every winter to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995.

In addition, “Farmers Market” is held every Saturday in Kobe East Park (東遊園地).

I moved south.

This retro building was “Kobe Customs (神戸税関)”.

Across Kobe Customs (神戸税関), there was “Design and Creative Center Kobe (デザイン・クリエイティブセンター神戸)”.

Shinko 1st Jetty (新港第1突堤)

On the way to Meriken Park and Harborland, the next destination, I stopped by “Shinko 1st Jetty (新港第1突堤)”.

I saw Meriken Park across the sea.

On the opposite direction, Kobe Great Bridge (神戸大橋) was seen.

A ship “Seiun-maru (青雲丸)” was anchored.

Go to Meriken Park

Then, I moved to Meriken Park and Harborland, the main destination for the first day of my trip.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Chinatown and Former Foreign Settlement etc. as part of Day 1.

These spots I visited in this article were located within walking distance and I found they had different scenery from Chinatown to Western style buildings.

Talking of Chinatown, I recalled “Nagasaki Lantern Festival”, which I visited three years ago (February 2016).

“Travel notes of Nagasaki: Nagasaki Lantern Festival (Shinchi Chinatown and Confucian Shrine)”

To tell the truth, one of photos I took in Confucian Shrine was used as part of the brochure for the 2019 Nagasaki Lantern Festival.

My original picture.

The brochure for the 2019 Nagasaki Lantern Festival.

When I looked back to the photo, I found there was a room for improvement, but anyway I appreciated that my picture was used for the event 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Meriken Park and Harborland as part of Day 1.

[Map]

1 Nankinmachi Square
2 Roushouki
3 Former Foreign Settlement Lot 38
4 Meikai Buikding
5 Kenryu Building
6 The former American consulate at No. 15
7 Kobe Asahi Building
8 Takasago Building
9 Kobe East Park
10 Kobe Customs
11 Design and Creative Center Kobe
12 Shinko 1st Jetty