On this trip to Kobe, we made a special visit to the exotic Kitano Ijinkan district. It feels very different from typical Japanese streets. As you slowly stroll along the hillside, you can see beautifully preserved Western-style residences one after another. The red brick, wooden buildings, and distinctive streetscapes come together to make you feel as if you’ve suddenly arrived in Europe, and every casual photo looks charming.
There are several differently themed foreign residences to choose from in this area. This time, we bought a three-house combo ticket, so we could take our time exploring at our own pace without rushing. The Sherlock Holmes House left a particularly strong impression on me. It has many themed settings and story displays, and you can also borrow detective costumes and hats for photos. Putting on the costume and walking through the house really made me feel like Sherlock Holmes stepping into the setting of a mystery novel. It was quite fun!
The Kitano Ijinkan district preserves traces of the history of foreign residents who lived here during the Meiji period. Each Western-style residence has its own architectural features, and the interiors display furniture, household items, and decorations used at the time, offering a closer look at what life was like back then.
Besides visiting the Western-style residences, there are also plenty of distinctive cafes, dessert shops, and small stores along the way. It’s a great place to find somewhere to sit and rest while enjoying a leisurely trip. Although some of the streets are steep and require a bit of stamina, the architecture and scenery along the way are well worth taking the time to appreciate.
