Kitano

Kobe

Kitano featuring a city, shopping and street scenes
Kitano
Kitano
Kitano featuring street scenes and a city
Shin-Kobe Ropeway showing a gondola and a garden as well as a small group of people
Discover museums, cafés and shops in this pleasant hilltop neighborhood, featuring mansions from the early 1900s displaying distinctive Western-style architecture.

Walk around the hilltop district of Kitano and discover a different side of Kobe. Instead of Japanese architecture, this neighborhood holds abundant Western-style residences, former homes of early 20th-century foreign diplomats and traders. Many have been preserved as museums. Between the grand residences, find trendy cafés, restaurants and small shops.

When Kobe port opened itself to the outside world, American and European traders flocked to the city. At the top of Yamate Hill, they built luxury homes in the unique architectural styles of their homelands, creating this truly international neighborhood. Known in Japan as ijinkan, the houses all exude their own characters. See some of the dozen remaining homes open to the public, now preserved by the local government.

Visit Kazamidori-no-yakata, or the Weathercock House, with a rooftop weathervane that has become a symbol of Kitano. The imposing red-brick building, one of the most elaborate ijinkan, was built by a German trader in the early 1900s. Inside, discover mixed German architectural styles, some of which resemble a medieval castle.

Tour through Europe as you visit the English House, which is a museum during the day and a pub at night. The French House features ornate antiques including stained-glass Tiffany lamps. Create your own perfume inside the workshop at the Dutch House, which is filled with curious Dutch antiques. Enter the taxidermy world of Ben’s House, where stuffed animals include a tiger, a moose and a polar bear.

Relax inside chic cafés and restaurants tucked inside or between the houses and soak up the nostalgic atmosphere of bygone days. Peruse the area’s antique shops, high-end souvenir shops and stylish boutiques.

Kitano is a short uphill walk from San-no-miya and Shin-Kobe stations. The district is small and easily navigable on foot. Pay the fees to enter the houses and save money by opting for combined or passport tickets, granting entry into multiple houses. Come to Kitano to see what daily life was like for the wealthy families who moved across the world to Kobe.


Popular places to visit


Kitano Hotel Deals

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower

3 out of 5
1-2-13 Minatomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Osaka
The price is NT$1,790 per night from Aug 17 to Aug 18
NT$1,790
NT$2,166 total
Aug 17 - Aug 18
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Dotonbori and Nipponbashi are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,297 reviews)
"great hotel but elevators take too long if you're on floors 21-23"

Reviewed on 2025/8/8

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower
Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba

Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba

3 out of 5
Nanba Chuou-ku 2-chome 3 -9, Osaka, Osaka
The price is NT$2,950 per night from Aug 11 to Aug 12
NT$2,950
NT$3,245 total
Aug 11 - Aug 12
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,225 reviews)
"I was very much impressed with the property and the location. Very clean and staff is very attentive. Easy to get the train and/or uber! Only down side is that the rooms were extremely small."

Reviewed on 2025/8/9

Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

4 out of 5
1-1 Ofukacho, Kita, Osaka, Osaka
The price is NT$3,452 per night from Sep 2 to Sep 3
NT$3,452
NT$4,177 total
Sep 2 - Sep 3
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,666 reviews)
"The location of this property was great and lots of amenities nearby. The transit system is located nearby and you have ready access to restaurants and shopping."

Reviewed on 2025/8/6

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA
Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi

Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi

3 out of 5
2-4-10, Minami-Senba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka-fu
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, in-room massages, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,001 reviews)
"已第二次入住,性價比高,地點方便,房間整潔,會再次入住"

Reviewed on 2025/8/3

Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi
Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

4 out of 5
1-12-8 Sonezakishinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NT$2,464 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
NT$2,464
NT$3,198 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,686 reviews)
"Very good!"

Reviewed on 2025/8/5

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka - Namba

Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka - Namba

3.5 out of 5
1-1-13 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka-fu
The price is NT$1,380 per night from Aug 17 to Aug 18
NT$1,380
NT$1,670 total
Aug 17 - Aug 18
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,038 reviews)
"I took a star off because the mini fridge they have in the room doesn't keep things cold or even cool, just somewhere above room temp. Yes, it did bother me enough to take a star off."

Reviewed on 2025/8/6

Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka - Namba
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Kitano

Kobe showing a city and street scenes

Chuo Ward

5/5(1 area review)

Travelers choose Chuo Ward for its waterfront views. Hop aboard the metro at Shinkobe Station or Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station and check out top sights like Ikuta Shrine.

Chuo Ward
Sannomiya featuring road cycling, signage and street scenes

Sannomiya

4.5/5(55 area reviews)

Serving as Kobe's financial, commercial, and entertainment center, Sannomiya boasts the historic Sannomiya Shrine and is a major transportation hub with Kobe-Sannomiya Station connecting various railway systems.

Sannomiya
Kobe Tower showing a bay or harbor, a city and a high rise building

Kobe City Centre

4.5/5(77 area reviews)

Consider exploring the waterfront views in Kobe City Centre. If sightseeing is on the list, Ikuta Shrine is a top attraction. Hop on the metro at Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station or Motomachi Station to see more of the area.

Kobe City Centre
Chinatown featuring a city, street scenes and markets

Nankin-machi

Kobe's Chinatown, Nankin-machi, offers a variety of Chinese and Japanese food options, with over a hundred restaurants and shops. Explore the Chinese temple, three archways, and zodiac pavilion, while enjoying easy access to Motomachi train station.

Nankin-machi
Kobe Tower showing cbd, modern architecture and skyline

Hatobacho

If you're spending some time in Hatobacho, Kobe Tower and Kawasaki Good Times World are top sights worth seeing.

Hatobacho
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Shinkaichi

5/5(1 area review)

While there might not be top attractions in Shinkaichi, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Kobe Harborland and Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall.

Shinkaichi

Kitano