Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

If you're looking for an affordable European getaway right in Japan, this is the spot! It's a charming old town filled with beautiful historical buildings and mansions. You'll find a variety of bistros, cafes, and restaurants, giving you plenty of options for a lovely weekend date. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to mix things up a bit and enjoy a change of scenery!

Interesting walk. Didn’t enter any historical properties as there wasn’t enough tourist info to make me want to go in. Looks like the area has seen better times. Interesting abandoned buildings.

Kitano Ijinkan-Gai is a unique historical district in Kobe, famous for its beautifully preserved Western-style mansions (Ijinkan) built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These former residences of foreign merchants and diplomats showcase a mix of European and Japanese influences, offering a fascinating glimpse into Kobe’s international past. Visitors can explore several open mansions, including the Weathercock House, Moegi House, and Uroko House, each featuring elegant interiors and cultural exhibits. The area also has charming cafés, boutique shops, and scenic city views. A must-visit for history lovers and those looking to experience Kobe’s cosmopolitan heritage in a picturesque setting.

If you are from Europe, especially England or France. It's nothing for you. The only thing you'll be able to see is houses with different country flags. Nothing special, really. Quite ordinary. If you are mot from there. It might be qe interesting. The western style of street and buildings.

I would advise you to stop by, it’s very smaller version of mansion tours in Rhode Island, USA. Worth spending time.

While there is some history to the European houses here, we felt that its more of a tourist trap as you have to pay entrance fee for each and every house just to view it. We were on our way to the Botanical Gardens anyway, so just passed by this area. Nothing special or anythimg to shout about, but if you really need to see them out of curiosity, then do pay and have a peek. No harm trying. 😁

I thought 3300 yen for a full trip was fair, but when I come to the Denmark house, I found at least three houses are not included in”the full trip”, and these buildings lost their original flavour, they are very similar, and really designed for tourists, especially those who just want to take photos.

the ultimate ✨ｄｒｅａｍｓ✨ came true 😭😭😭✨ never felt so alive，gosh fckin＇heaven 💖✨ thank you mum&pop for everything‼️