Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe

Kobe opened its port to the world in 1868 and became an important trade center for foreign countries. Under this circumstance, the Kobe Motomachi area was designated as a residential area for foreign traders. Massive neo-classical Western architecture from that time is well preserved, offering a western townscape in the middle of Japan.

In the area, there are many culturally significant historical properties, high-end brand stores, unique overseas retail shops, as well as a stylish café and adjacent knick-knack shops. The streets are beautifully illuminated at night, and located next to the sea the whole area offers a very romantic atmosphere.

The most attractive place of all is the Former Foreign Settlement 38-bankan. This building was constructed in 1929 as the National Citi Bank Kobe branch, and retains its architectural integrity today. Currently, the Daimaru department store uses it for their branch department store while keeping the old residential lot number, 38, in its name. The department store contains world famous luxury shops and plays a major role in the area’s sophisticated town walk.