The Kobe Kitano Ijinkan area is a popular attraction for first-time visitors to Kobe. After the Port of Kobe opened, many foreigners came to live here, leaving the Kitano area with numerous Western-style residences and buildings that make up today’s famous Ijinkan district. As you walk along the slopes and streets, you can see buildings from different eras and in different styles, each with its own story and distinctive features. However, there are quite a few houses, so if you want to visit them all at once, you should set aside at least half a day, or even a full day for a more relaxed visit. If you have limited time, consider buying a combination ticket and choosing a few Ijinkan that interest you. This will make your itinerary much more manageable.
Kobe Kitano Ijinkan (Former Foreign Residences) | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Houkiboshi “Brown Sugar Cannelés – 10-Piece Set”
The most popular item from Houkiboshi, Okinawa’s first specialty shop dedicated to Brown Sugar Cannelés, is this delightful 10-piece set. Made with premium brown sugar from Tarama Island, each bite offers a rich depth of flavor and an elegant sweetness. The exterior is perfectly crisp, while the inside remains soft and chewy.
沖繩超人氣的 Houki Boshi ほうき星可麗露，光是包裝就讓人愛不釋手！打開盒子彷彿進入一片星空，精緻又夢幻，最小的4入裝，可以自由挑選不同口味。迷你可麗露以沖繩多良間島黑糖製作，外皮微微酥脆，內部濕潤柔軟，帶著淡淡黑糖香氣。除了經典黑糖，還有沖繩牛奶、鳳梨、咖啡等多種特色口味，每一顆都小巧可愛，根本捨不得吃！
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen once stood as an estate of the Naito family, the hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa family in the Edo period before being established as an imperial garden in 1906.
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s premier cherry blossom viewing spots, with nearly 1,000 cherry trees of more than 65 varieties planted across its expansive lawns. From the early-blooming kanzakura and Kawazu cherry trees to the final display of Somei Yoshino and double-flowered cherry blossoms, the different varieties bloom one after another. The garden combines Japanese, English landscape, and French formal garden designs, creating enchanting scenery. Every spring, visitors and local residents bring picnic blankets and sit beneath the cherry trees, enjoying food and the romantic views while taking in the feeling of spring in Tokyo.
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Starbucks Coffee Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Store
Starbucks Coffee Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Store opened in 2011, right next to the torii gate facing the Omotesando Avenue of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. This is one of the "Regional Landmark Stores," originally designed by Starbucks in iconic locations throughout Japan to promote the attractive local culture to the rest of the world.
This Starbucks was designed by master architect Kengo Kuma. Its most striking feature is the use of approximately 2,000 pieces of traditional timber, woven diagonally and extending from the interior to the exterior. The entire building was constructed without a single metal nail. The flowing wooden lines perfectly complement the historical and cultural atmosphere of Dazaifu, blending nature, tradition, and modern architectural aesthetics. It’s an artistic landmark and photo spot you definitely shouldn’t miss when visiting Tenmangu Shrine!
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