【まち歩き】神戸北野異人館街などハイカラな街並みを散策した日のVlog。【神戸観光】/ Japan travel, walking around Kobe, Hyogo.

【まち歩き】神戸北野異人館街などハイカラな街並みを散策した日のVlog。【神戸観光】/ Japan travel, walking around Kobe, Hyogo.

This is a land where Japanese and foreigners have lived together. A stylish town layered with diverse cultures. As you reflect on its origins, please enjoy at a leisurely pace. A morning sky peeking through clouds with a refreshing blue. I’ve arrived in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. The first thing that caught my eye was a dignified Western-style building. Is that Miffy’s face painted on the building🤭 Kobe is home to both old and new Western architecture, creating a very fashionable cityscape. I can already feel the charm, and I’m getting excited😊 For now, let’s walk toward the city center. “The Former Foreign Settlement Of Kobe” This is the first destination. Large buildings with straight lines are densely packed, but nestled between them are cool Western-style structures. This solid look—it’s so picturesque😌 If Japanese buildings are soft, these are firm. A wide street with few people feels strangely refreshing💭 Such a stylish and splendid district. Why are there so many Western buildings in Kobe? The origin goes back to the Edo period. With the opening of Japan in the late Edo era, foreign cultures flooded in. The ports opened to the world were Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate, Niigata, and Kobe. To open the ports, foreign settlements were needed, and this area became a place where foreigners lived and worked. European urban planning techniques were used to design the town, transforming the village into a grid of Western-style buildings. Though it suffered great damage in WWII and the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, it was rebuilt each time, and with new buildings and apartments, a town rich in exotic charm and stylish architecture was formed. The contrast between shiny buildings and chic Western architecture is striking😶 Modern buildings in retro spaces might seem mismatched, but surprisingly, they blend well—it’s fascinating. Both are bold and solid, so maybe their visual impression aligns in the same direction. This district offers shopping, museums, and galleries, making it a place for elegant holidays. It’s overflowing with charm… And since it’s a port town, you can enjoy views of the sea too, so one day isn’t nearly enough to enjoy it all. I saw a pedestrian bridge and decided to cross it. Huge buildings lined up neatly—it’s so powerful… Even from here, it looks different from typical Japanese scenery, and you can feel how the town’s origins are respected even today. Not just in town planning—every origin holds a soul, so I want to keep my own beginnings close in daily life too. Next to the settlement is a gate with a different exotic feel. “Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi” This is one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns. The vivid red unique to Chinatown catches the eye. During the day, delicious aromas would likely fill the air, but it’s too early in the morning, and none of the shops are open yet. Food signs line the street, stirring up my appetite whether I like it or not. Besides here, the other two major Chinatowns are in Yokohama and Nagasaki. Having visited both, today completes the trio. Every time I go to a Chinatown, I seem to end up eating my favorites—chimaki and xiaolongbao— so I definitely want to get those two here as well. There are still a few places I want to visit in Kobe City, so I’ll come back here after exploring. It’s my first time seeing a Chinatown without crowds—feels refreshing. If food were laid out at the storefronts, it’d be like Spirited Away. If I ate the goods without permission, I’d turn into a pig, but when you’re hungry and delicious-looking food is lined up before you, your stress meter is bound to hit the max💭 Leaving Chinatown behind, I’m now heading north. In the arcade street along the way, I spotted some familiar shop names, so it must be functioning well as a bustling district. There are stylish coffee shops in town, and alleys bathed in beautiful light, even ordinary streets carry a fashionable atmosphere. There’s even a Western-style Starbucks, and I imagine how delightful walks would be if I lived here. “Kobe Kitano Ijinkan Gai” I’ve arrived at a beautifully cobbled street. This area was once home to many foreigners who worked in the settlement I walked earlier. It’s said that many foreigners lived here. Even now, many of the buildings from that time remain, making it a spot where you can feel the exotic atmosphere of the past. Climbing the stairs with flowing water, a stately Western-style house came into view. “Weathervane House” Made of wood and brick—it looks so cool…!! Looking back, I see the slope I climbed earlier, and a lively fountain spraying water, making me feel like I’ve stepped into a fairytale😊 This place is just too stylish… Inside is a chic room with carpeted floors. The furnishings lit by the chandelier glow with classical elegance. Crimson roses are arranged throughout the space, evoking the graceful life of a merchant at the height of prosperity. This residence was designed by Mr. Thomas, a trading merchant, as his private home, and it was built incorporating traditional German architectural styles. Apparently, the chandelier can be raised or lowered by adjusting the reel length, higher for meals, lower for reading—quite a functional design. Even the light streaming through the windows matches the refined interior. I wonder what kind of life the residents led in this house. What comes to mind is someone gracefully sipping tea every morning 💭 From the window, you can see the cityscape of Kobe. Located at the foot of the mountain, the view is excellent—truly a prime location. It was absolutely wonderful. This stylish town lined with Western-style houses offers a different kind of excitement from Japan’s traditional streets. “Moegi no Yakata” This house is painted a soft, muted yellow-green. Above it sits a charming brick chimney as an accent. What an adorable building 😌 Naturally, the interior is retro-chic as well. Unlike the Weathercock House, this one somehow feels more lived-in. Maybe it’s just that each room isn’t overly large, making it easier to imagine someone actually living here 😇 The interior walls are also painted in the same deep yellow-green as the exterior. I just learned that this deep yellow-green is called “moegi-iro.” It refers to the color of young leaves sprouting in spring, and its fresh hue really lifts your spirits 😊 Outside, I found an incredibly stylish sloped path. White-walled buildings lining the narrow street gave off a back-alley vibe like in Europe. Seeing this scenery reminded me of the Little Prince Museum in Hakone. The museum had Western-style buildings and a charming European atmosphere, and it was one of my favorite places 😊 Sadly, it closed down a few years ago 😭 It was also a popular spot for music video shoots, and the MV for “World Atlas” by my favorite band fhana was filmed there on a snowy day. I wish I could’ve seen it covered in snow just once 💭 This Ijinkan district is even larger than that beloved place, and the fact that people actually lived—or still live—here is astonishing. The brown-trimmed exterior is just so charming😊 Near the port, buildings were sturdy and bold, but here, the architecture feels soft and charming. The harmony with the warmth of wood is simply beautiful. It’s so lovely, my spirits are rising even more. From the top of the slope, the view is clear and expansive. Did those who came from distant lands also find comfort in this breathtaking scenery? Or did they gaze out at the sea, thinking of home? In an age before airplanes, those who came to Japan had only ships to return by—crossing the sea wasn’t easy. They must have arrived with a once-in-a-lifetime resolve. With such determination, carrying missions entrusted by their homeland, they surely brought the full breath of foreign winds to this place. These exotic townscapes— I’ve seen similar ones in Yokohama and Nagasaki. Both are port towns opened during Japan’s opening to the world, so their foreign settlements must have been preserved in each region. Nagasaki’s scenery was especially beautiful—it’s etched in my memory. Even before Japan opened its borders, Nagasaki traded with foreign nations, with places like Glover Garden, Japan’s oldest church, and Dutch Slope, where the scent of foreign lands lingers strongly. With many slopes offering great views, retro streetcars running through town, and dazzling nightscapes—it was truly a perfect place. I’ve promised myself I’ll definitely return someday. I hope I can capture it on video next time. Come to think of it, this area also has many slopes and is a port town—just like Nagasaki. One condition for a good harbor is deep water near the coast, and deep water often means steep terrain, so similar landscapes might be inevitable. Even if far apart, similar terrain seems to invite similar town structures, and no matter how advanced science becomes, nature and human life remain intertwined. I found an ivy-covered alley with a moody atmosphere. Even steeper than the paths before. That adds a quiet, mysterious charm to the walk, making it quite an enjoyable path. There’s a Dutch-style house at the top, so this slope is called “Dutch Slope.” Being on a hill, the view is of course wonderful😌 While walking, I came across a building made of brick. Earthen walls, brickwork, wooden structures—such variety in architecture, there’s never a dull moment for the eyes. Looking down the slope, the scenery feels exhilarating. Ahead, I spotted a torii gate. “Kitanotenmangu Shrine” This shrine sits atop a hill. From here, you can see the proud silhouette of the Weathervane House. To the left, the developed cityscape comes into view. Such a beautiful panorama… The contrast between the distant downtown and nearby Western houses is captivating. This shrine, with its serene Japanese atmosphere, might serve as a symbol of Japan within the Ijinkan district. I’ve reached the very top. The Ijinkan district is designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and though I’ve walked through the central area, the designated zone extends even further. I’m starting to feel tired, but I’ll explore just a bit more. Now I’ve arrived at the western side of the Ijinkan district. Here, modern homes stand neatly arranged, and it feels like one could live a very thoughtful life here. Another slope with a great view appears. Between the houses, Western-style buildings are scattered, offering glimpses of the Meiji to Showa eras. On narrow paths where people barely pass each other, brick walls line the way. And suddenly, a chic building appears. While grand buildings in open spaces are impressive, those quietly nestled in narrow alleys have their own charm. Some Western houses here even have nameplates, suggesting that many are not just open to the public, but part of everyday life. Whatever the form, if the origin of this place isn’t forgotten, and this beautiful townscape continues into the future, I’ll be truly happy. I’ve made it back to the main road. My energy is nearly spent, so I’ll head back to where I parked the car, grab lunch in Chinatown to recharge, and then head home. Today I walked through Kobe, a city rich in exotic charm, and found more variety in Western architecture than I expected. It’s a place where you can feel history and enjoy each building’s unique character. I’ve heard the number of Western houses has decreased since the Showa era, but even so, you can still experience a rare and distinctive atmosphere here. If you ever crave a stylish journey, this is the place to visit. That’s all for today. Bye-bye. If you enjoyed this, please subscribe, give it a thumbs up, and share the hype!

異国情緒あふれる神戸を散策してきました。
普段中々見かけない重厚な建物や、おとぎ話に出てくるような洋館が建っており、
メルヘンな気持ちが湧いてくる街でした💭

0:00 オープニング / Opening
1:31 神戸旧居留地 / The Former Foreign Settlement Of Kobe
5:44 神戸中華街・南京町 / Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi
9:27 神戸北野異人館街 / Kobe Kitano Ijinkan Gai
13:40 サムネイル / Thumbnail
20:05 神戸の見晴らし / The View of Kobe

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