An idyllic port city in the west of Japan, Kobe is one of Japan’s underappreciated cities.
Today, I decided to climb up from the hill to Kobe’s iconic Weathercock House (http://www.kobe-kazamidori.com/kazamidori/).
The Weathercock House was constructed in 1909 as a house for German trader, Mr. Thomas.
It is one of the few brick buildings in the Kitano area, famous for historic buildings. The weathercock on the roof of the building used to help read wind directions; today, it is the symbol of Kobe, found on many places, including the city’s manholes.
The House was severely damaged in the 1995 Earthquake, which killed over 6000 people.
However, repair works extending over two years has helped restore the building into its original design.
Today, you will be able to see the first and second floor of the building. The rooms are decorated as they would have been in the early 1900s, with Japanese and English descriptions of the rooms’ use. The signage also explains the history of the house’s owners, the Thomas family.
Photography is permitted throughout the building. You can also take wonderful pictures from Kitano Square, located just outside the House’s grounds. Another great view is seen from Kitano-tenmangu, a shrine located on the elevated hill behind the Weathercock House.
Here, you can see the House as well as the beautiful Port of Kobe. It’s worth the walk!
The Weathercock house is open 9am-6pm daily (closed on first Tuesday of February and June). Price: 500 yen. Photography: permitted.
To get there, take a fifteen minute walk from JR/Hankyu/Hanshin/Kobe Subway’s Sannomiya Stations.
Map:
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