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Kobe City Museum was opened in 1982, combining two collections of the Archaeological Art Museum and Namban Art Museum under the same roof.

The museum is housed in a neoclassical building built in 1935, the former Kobe branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank. 

Kobe City Museum is devoted to the basic themes of International Cultural Exchange. These themes are reflected in the Permanent Exhibition Rooms housing the Namban Art Museum as well as the Educational Room and Library.
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Kobe City Museum

​The collection of nearly thirty-nine thousand items comprises archaeological artifacts, works of art, old maps, and historical documents as well as artifacts relating to Japan, from its earliest cultural imports from China and Korea to traded goods that entered Kobe after its port was opened to international trade in the 19th century. 

It includes one of the world's largest collections of Namban Art "Southern Barbarian Art", as well as a set of Dotaku "Japanese Bronze Bells", and other items of the Yayoi period that have been designated a National Treasure.

There is a rotating exhibition that includes colorful paintings and folding screens which depict scenes of early Japanese contacts with foreign traders.
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Kobe City Museum

​The Former Foreign Settlement in Kobe is an area straddling Sannomiya and Motomachi, to the west of Higashi Yuenchi Park.

​After the opening of the port, it was organized as a center of commerce and trade and a residential area for non-Japanese. Lined with boutiques, restaurants and cafes, which are all housed in Western stone buildings, the area has a sophisticated feel. 

Besides Kobe City Museum the area is also home to the Kobe Lamp-work Glass Museum, where visitors can enjoy looking at works of art there as well. 
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Kobe Kaigan Street

Along with Higashi Yuenchi Park, this neighborhood is the site of the popular winter illumination event "Kobe Luminarie".

Kobe Luminarie is a light festival held every December since 1995 to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year.

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Over 200,000 individually hand painted lights are lit each year with electricity generated from biomass in order to stay environmentally friendly. The lights were donated by the Italian Government.
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Kobe Luminarie

Kobe City Museum Access

The Kobe City Museum is about a five minutes’ walk from Meriken Park, or ten minutes’ walk from either Motomachi or Sannomiya Stations.

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For the list of area's attractions and map you can visit Tourist Information Center and pick up a guidebook.
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Kobe Luminarie

Kobe Muslim Friendly Accommodation

Here as you see, there are few Muslim friendly hotels in the area. Once you click on any of the hotels, you will be redirected to an online booking website where you can make your reservation.

There are more Muslim friendly hotels in Hyogo prefecture listed on our website. For booking random hotels you can search with Hotels.com, or the Hotel Map below which shows hotel prices and location on the map.

There are Vacation Rentals in the area which suit travelers who prefer to rent a living space, especially for larger groups, families or those who seek a more local, everyday life experience. If you are traveling light and looking for a more economical place to stay Hostels are a good option.

For booking a rental car use the search engine below. Fill out the details; pickup and drop-off places, date and time, and press search. You will be redirected to Rental Cars website where a list of available cars will be shown to you to choose from.
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Kobe City Museum - Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture