Kitano Ijinkan, Foreigner’s Street
I decided to leave Arima Onsen and head to Kitano Ijinkan.
Arima Onsen – Dainigimi – Sannomiya – Shin-Kobe
I had to take the train from Arima Onsen (Arima Onsen) back to Dainigimi.
Since I had been on this route once, I had no trouble finding my way.
I took a look at the locomotive room from the caboose.
I could get a close-up look at Japanese trains.
Chartered train
The train departing from Arima Onsen was a chartered train for just me.
It took me along a rural path.
To reach Kitano Ijinkan, I got off at Shin-Kobe, a midway station, instead of going all the way to Sannomiya.
From Shin-Kobe, I could walk to Kitano Ijinkan.
Kitano Ijinkan 北野異人館 (North Foreigners’ House)
If you read it with spaces, it can be interpreted as “Kitano Foreigners’ House.”
This place is a collection of Western-style buildings along Kobe’s hillside, where you can feel the atmosphere of a European street.
Kitano Ijinkan
The arrangement of buildings and streets was different from other parts of Japan.
Each building followed the architectural styles of various European countries, and flags were displayed to show the origin of each building’s style.
Italian building
Kitano Ijinkan is a village constructed on a long hill, so I explored the town on my way down from the hot springs to Kobe’s city center.
This allowed me to comfortably explore the buildings.
Greek building
Some buildings allowed visitors to enter and explore the interiors, while others charged an admission fee.
I didn’t feel the need to pay for admission, so I took photos from the outside and only entered a few buildings where admission was free.
Foreign-style buildings(Ijinkan) in the alleys
In Kobe’s residential areas, could see both Japanese and European-style buildings.
The entire town used to be filled with Ijinkan, but recently, many have been demolished and replaced with Japanese-style buildings.
Outdoor wedding venue
Some buildings were used as wedding venues, and as a result, there were places where access to the outside was restricted.
Exploring every nook and cranny of the alleys
It was fun to wander through the winding alleys, never knowing what house or space would come next.
Souvenir shops
Many buildings were still in use as shops or restaurants.
Dining in an old European-style building, sipping tea, felt quite exotic.
Moegi-no-yakata (Green House)
Built in 1903, it was the former residence of the U.S. Consul.
The exterior walls were painted white and green, earning it the nickname “Green House.”
Kazamidori-no-yakata (Weathercock House)
Built in 1909, this was the residence of a German trader.
It was the building that appeared most frequently on Kitano Ijinkan’s commemorative postcards.
It’s known as the “Weathercock House” because it has a weather vane shaped like a rooster at the top of its roof.
Kitano Square
There was a square where you could take a break. Although it was past 4 p.m., I hadn’t had lunch yet. I decided to have a late lunch at a homey curry restaurant in the area.
Homey curry restaurant
It was a very small restaurant frequented by local residents.
Since it wasn’t mealtime, there was no one eating, but there was a table of patrons chatting and sipping tea.
Japanese curry
Seeing the photos brings back the taste. I scraped the plate clean; it was delicious.
House with Santa Claus
After eating curry, I walked downhill again and explored the houses.
Many houses were decorated with Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and mistletoe, as it was the Christmas season.
Starbucks
After a long walk, I felt a bit tired.
I was happy to see a Starbucks and decided to go in for a cup of coffee.
The building had a nice blend of white and blue.
I couldn’t speak Japanese, but it seemed like I could order Starbucks coffee.
Antique interior
Compared to other coffee shops, this Starbucks had an upscale atmosphere.
It wasn’t crowded, and it was a great place to sit and rest.
Starbucks celebrating Christmas
In celebration of Christmas, the takeaway cups were decorated for the holiday.
Although there were no sleeves, the cup material had a fabric-like texture, which helped insulate against the heat.
It was delicious.
While sipping coffee, I reviewed my remaining travel schedule for the day.
Kobe City Center
After finishing my coffee, I continued downhill and entered Kobe’s city center.
I kept walking to Nankinmachi (Chinatown).
Dec. 15, 2009