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Originally built as an up-scale rental house for foreigners, this building is covered with slabs of slate that give it an appearance of being scaled ("uroko" means fish scales). It was the first Ijin-kan to be opened to the public, and contains all of its original furniture and d└cor. The adjoining Uroko Art Museum contains paintings by early modern artists such as Matisse, Troyon, Rouault and Buffet, and also boasts the largest collection of works by Kobe native Masaru Horie. The view of Kobe City and the harbor from the third floor is superb.

Built in 1909 by German architect George de Lalande for fellow German businessman Gottfried Thomas, this is the only red brick home in the Kitano area, and is also known as the "Weathercock House" for the weathercock on its tower. It became famous after being featured in an NHK television drama in 1977, and was subsequently designated as an Important Cultural Property. A lot of restoration and preservation work was done in the 80s, and today visitors can view the house almost as it was when the Thomas family lived in it.

This colonial style home was built in 1903 for American Consul Hunter Sharp. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1980. Until 1987, the house was known as the "White Ijin-kan," but renovations revealed that it was originally a yellow-green ("Moegi"), so its original has been restored. The Yellow-Green House, as it is now called, lost its three chimneys and suffered a large crack in its walls during the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, but it has since been restored. One of the original, fallen chimneys is displayed in its garden.

Often called the Rhine House, but this is because in Japanese, "Rhine" and "Line" are both pronounced rah-in." In this case, the name refers to the horizontal "lines" of the siding on the house. It was built in 1915 by Mrs. J. R. Drewell, a woman originally from France, so has nothing to do with the Rhine... and although it is closed for renovations until March of 2006, it normally serves as the Ijin-kan Center with Visitor Information, a Cafe and space for exhibits and meetings.

Internationally renowned bridal designer Yumi Katsura's museum of original bridal gowns as well as a collection of ethnic bridal dresses that Ms. Katsura personally collected from around the world.

When the Port of Kobe was opened to the world in 1868, a Foreign Settlement area was set aside for people from countries with which Japan had signed trade agreements. The Chinese, who had no agreement, began to settle outside these districts, and that is how Kobe's Nankinmachi got its start. Today it is one of the three largest chinatowns in Japan, with over 100 shops and restaurants packed into an area of about four city blocks. There are colorful gates at its south, east and west ends, and the north end leads into the Motomachi shopping arcade. In the main intersection is an "azuma-ya," or Chinese gazebo. The festivities during the Chinese New Year are spectacular.

A sightseeing tower built on the waterfront in 1963, it is designed like a tsuzumi, a traditional Japanese hand drum. Its earthquake-proof design was tested and validated during the Great Hanshin Earthquake. It is 108 meters high, and from its observation decks and revolving lounge, visitors can see the city of Kobe and its port, as well as the Rokko mountains to the north and as far as Kansai International Airport to the south on a clear day.

The water between Meriken Pier and Naka Pier were filled and turned into Meriken Park, and the Maritime Museum was built alongside the already existing Kobe Port Tower in 1987, all in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the opening of the port. The museum building is designed like the prow of a white boat, and this can be viewed best from the Tower. The first floor exhibits explain the function and day-to-day operations of a modern port, and introduce some of the goods imported and exported at the Port of Kobe. There is also a one-eighth scale model of the British HMS Rodney, the first foreign ship to sail into Kobe upon its reopening on January 1, 1868. On the second floor, visitors can learn the history of the Port of Kobe, which began with trade with China and Korea before the Nara Period (710-790). There is also a 3D Puppet Theater performance of "Treasure Island." Outside the museum are the Yamato 1, a prototype electromagnetically-powered ship, and a life-size, working replica of Columbus' Santa Maria.

The Municipal Archaeological Art Museum and the Namban Art Museum were combined into the Kobe City Museum in 1982. The theme of the collections is "International Culture Exchange," and featured are artifacts and artwork that reflect foreign influence. Of interest are the paintings of European people and cultures by Japanese artists in the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the portrait of Saint Francis Xavier who came to Japan to preach Christianity in 1549. "Namban" originally referred to Portuguese sailors, but eventually came to describe anything Western or European.

Also on the Port of Kobe waterfront, this memorial park preserves a 60-meter stretch of the concrete dock that was damaged by the Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, as a testament to what an earthquake can do. There are also displays and models that show how the city was damaged and rebuilt, as well as future plans for restoration.

Nunobiki Park, at the foot of Rokko Mountain, features an extensive Herb Garden featuring over 200 species of fragrant, medicinal and edible herbs. There are themed gardens, such as the Kitchen Garden and Japanese Herb Garden, and a restaurant and cafe that serve food and drinks using plenty of herbs. Concerts are often held in the hall, and aromatherapy and craft classes are offered. There is a 10-mionute gondola from downtown Kobe right to the Garden, but for those with time and energy, an easy 40-minute hike through the park will reward with views of four waterfalls.

Opened as the site for the 1981 Kobe Port Island Exposition, this amusement park complex was originally on the waterfront side of the artificial Port Island, but with continued construction and the filling of the surrounding waters, it has gradually become inland. Unfortunately, due to the decline in the number of visitors, this park will be closed on March 31, 2006. This may be your last chance to see Kobe from atop the giant ferris wheel!

A shopping, dining and amusement complex built in 1992 on the land-filled Kobe Harborland. The mall has three floors and is designed like an open street in a southern European town. Besides the many boutiques and eateries, there are also Cine-Mosaic, which has four movie theaters, and Mosaic Garden, an amusement park with an all-weather ferris wheel.

Kobe City Hall has an observation lobby, restaurant and cafe on the 24th floor of its tallest building, and it is open to the public free of charge. Visitors can see Rokko Mountain and the Sannomiya area to the north, and Harborland and Port Island to the south. The Floor is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 9pm on other days.

This stern German Renaissance style building was originally a treatment facility for the famous Rokko Mountain water. Today it houses a science museum dedicated to the importance of water, both to the planet and to us in our daily lives. There are interactive exhibits such as a machine that measures the amount of water in your body, and a virtual aquarium where the fish you draw start to swim. There is also an Aqua Salon with books and videos on water, and samples of water for visitors to taste and compare. The Hybrid 3D Theater combines a 3D movie with a water fountain display. The museum is closed during the winter (December 1-February 28).

A corporate museum that became nationally recognized in 1990, the Takenaka Carpentry Museum collects and exhibits over 1,800 pieces of traditional carpentry tools that have been used since the dawn of architecture in Japan. Skilled tradesmen used their superior, well-kept tools until they were so worn that they had to be thrown out, and it was the wish of Takenaka’s former chairman that as many such tools as possible be salvaged and preserved. It is fascinating to see how such simple wood and iron tools could be used to build something as elaborate as the Todaiji temple in Nara.

The Kansai Electoric Power Company aquired a private collection of lamps, and expanded it into this comprehensive museum of light. Starting with the simple oil lamps and torches of the stone ages, the exhibits take the visitor through man’s history of artificial light and heat. There is a "Walk of Light," a walk-through exhibit simulating a street in the Old Foreign Settlement, as well as a Reference Room with books and an electronic database.

This ostentatious shrine developed from the gravesite of the 14th century warlord Masashige Kusunoki, who fell in battle on May 25, 1336. He is revered as a demi-god, having the three virtues of intelligence, justice and courage, and commands a great following even to this day. An annual memorial service running from May 24 to 26 attracts a lot of visitors. There is also a museum that exhibits approximately 200 items associated with Lord Kusunoki.

Originally built in 1880 to house the American Consulate, this white building is now the only building left from the Old Settlement days and designated an Important Cultural Property. It was destroyed completely during the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, but was subsequently rebuilt using as much of the original materials as possible. Today, visitors can enjoy contemporary dining in the charming dining room or relax with a coffee in the upstairs lounge.

This extensive Japanese garden was built by local businessman Taijiro Kodera. Construction on the gardens and an elaborate residence began in 1885, and took 26 years to complete. In 1941, it became city property, and the gardens were opened to the public-But unfortunately, the air raids of 1945 destroyed all but the stables of the original Kodera buildings. Later, the old Hassam Residence was moved from the Ijinkan-gai in Kitano and rebuilt here, and the "house" portion of a houseboat from the late 17th century thought to have been used by the lord of Himeji was also brought here. The Kodera stables, the Hassam Residence and the houseboat are all designated Important Cultural Properties.

An old school building was converted into a unique showcase for some of Kobe's famous brands. The former Kitano Grade School now houses some twenty businesses such as sweetshops Antenor and Morozoff, UCC Coffee, the custom-made shoe store Poco a Poco, and Bijin Nuka, the first company to market rice bran as a cosmetic ingredient. Visitors can browse and buy, as well as watch demonstrations and even participate in hands-on workshops.

Known as the White House, this building used be the residence for the American Consular staff and is the only bungalow-style Ijin-kan in Kitano. It now contains an art gallery, shop and cafe featuring the soft, dreamy illustrations of Moe Nagata, an illustrator for children's books and a native of Kobe.