Kitano Travel Guide

Kobe

Kitano showing a city, shopping and street scenes
Kitano
Kitano
Kitano featuring a city and street scenes
Kitano

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


Top hotels in Kitano

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 ₹5,930 per night from 14 Oct to 15 Oct
₹5,930
₹7,175 total
14 Oct - 15 Oct
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Dotonbori and Nipponbashi are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,692 reviews)
"I didnt like that you had to pay for access to the pool. The food and drinks were overpriced. The hotel is very nice and checkin and checkout is very fast. Oh they also hold your bags before and after checkin."

Reviewed on 15 Sept 2025

APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower
Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

4 out of 5
1-12-8 Sonezakishinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,769 reviews)
"Nice hotel"

Reviewed on 15 Sept 2025

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba

Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba

3 out of 5
Nanba Chuou-ku 2-chome 3 -9, Osaka, Osaka
The price is ₹7,420 per night from 14 Oct to 15 Oct
₹7,420
₹8,162 total
14 Oct - 15 Oct
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,366 reviews)
"The hotel is at a very convenient location."

Reviewed on 13 Sept 2025

Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

4 out of 5
1-1 Ofukacho, Kita, Osaka, Osaka
Fully refundable
The price is ₹12,060 per night from 15 Oct to 16 Oct
₹12,060
₹14,873 total
15 Oct - 16 Oct
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,822 reviews)
"It’s a bit confusing to find out at first but that could mainly be me not being adapt at using Apple/Google Maps well. Afterwards the property is great, quiet, provides free coffee and extremely convenient for metros."

Reviewed on 16 Sept 2025

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 Wi-Fi, 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 3 Aug 2025

Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi
Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

4 out of 5
1-2-3 Minatomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Osaka
The price is ₹11,021 per night from 14 Oct to 15 Oct
₹11,021
₹14,305 total
14 Oct - 15 Oct
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 3 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,495 reviews)
"Great 4-star hotel. Easy access to Namba Walk (underground shopping and restaurants) and other tourist attractions. VIP upgrade to the 30th floor (2nd highest) and 1pm checkout. The room size is adequate for Japan standard. The queen size has great back support. The AC is superb. The shower head ..."

Reviewed on 12 Sept 2025

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka
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 neighbourhoods around Kitano

Kobe featuring a city and street scenes

Chuo Ward

You might take some time to check out the waterfront views in Chuo Ward. Spend some time visiting top spots like Ikuta Shrine, and catch the metro at Shinkobe Station or Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station to see more of the area.

Chuo Ward
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Sannomiya

4.5/5(16 area reviews)

Travellers choose Sannomiya for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station or Boeki Center Station and check out top sights like Ikuta Shrine.

Sannomiya
Kobe Tower featuring a city, a skyscraper and modern architecture

Kobe City Centre

5/5(21 area reviews)

Travellers choose Kobe City Centre for its captivating waterfront views. Hop aboard the metro at Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station or Motomachi Station and check out top sights like Ikuta Shrine.

Kobe City Centre
Chinatown which includes markets, street scenes and a city

Nankin-machi

Unique features of Nankin-machi include the coffee shops and shopping. Make a stop by Motomachi Shopping Street or Nankinmachi Square while you're exploring the area.

Nankin-machi
Kobe Tower showing a sunset, skyline and a city

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

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 Travel Guide