Yamate Hachibankan

From the triple tower to the stained-glass arch entrance, this building is a culmination of English Tudor Medieval architecture. The works of great sculptors like René Rodin, Antoine Bourdelle, Émile Bernard, Rembrandt are showcased here alongside the works of Eastern artists.

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum

An exhibition of the poison gas factory that was used during the Second World War. It reflects the misery of the war and the wishes for enduring peace in its wake.

la Maison de GRACIANI, Kitano, Kobe

Built in 1908, a French trading merchant named Mr. Granciani once lived here. It has been turned into a French restaurant that was awarded a Michelin Star! Dinner is quite expensive, but their lunch courses start at 4900 yen, not including tax.  

ヴィッセル神戸

Gassho-zukuri Minkaen

This open-air museum consists of 25 disused gassho-zukuri houses that have been relocated from various locations in Shirakawa-go and are being preserved and opened to the public; 9 of the 25 houses have been designated as important cultural properties. The park contains a shrine, a water mill, a stable, and other buildings that recreate the […]

Peace Flame

The fire stand was constructed in the year 1964 to console the spirits of the atomic bomb victims, and also with the aim to pray for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Later on, the fire stand was lit by kindling coals collected from all over Japan, still lit today, and the fire will not burn […]

Kobe City Hall

There is an observatory on the 24th floor of the 1st building. The city hall is in the middle of town, so it’s fairly easy to get there. It’s also open all-year round until 10pm every night. And it’s free! You can enjoy both the ocean and mountain views in the comfort of inside a […]

川越熊野神社

1590年に、日本有数の格式と古い歴史を持つ熊野本宮大社から分祀された由緒ある神社で、「蔵造りの町並み」の入り口付近にある。 建物や敷地はかなり小さく、郊外型のコンビニくらいの大きさなので、あっという間にお参りが出来て便利だ。 夫婦である伊弉諾尊と伊弉冊命が主祭神として祀られていることから、縁結びや恋愛に霊験あらたかだと日本人の間で強く信じられている。 本殿のすぐ手前にある宝池で、洗って清めたお金を財布に入れて大切にすると、金持ちになれると言われている。 何でも信じるほど純粋な割に、欲の皮が突っ張っている君は並んでお金を洗うと良いだろう。 なお、参道には、小石がぎっしりと詰められた「足踏み健康ロード」があり、靴を脱いでその上を歩くと足つぼマッサージができる。(※タダだが、君が不健康だとものすごく痛い)

The Uroko House & the Uroko Museum

First built in the Kyukyoryuchi in 1885 as a luxury house-for-rent for foreigners, the Uroko House was rebuilt 1905 here. Uroko is the Japanese word for scales, and this Ijinkan was named the Uroko House after the fish scale design on the exterior of the house. The uroko on the house are actually just rock […]

Kochiyama Observatory

It is the observatory with the best view in Amami Oshima (probably) and is located at an altitude of 415 meters above sea level. The observatory is a rather cute mushroom-shaped building, but a superb view awaits you on the top floor. The top floor offers a superb view of the Oshima Strait with its […]

時の鐘

蔵造りの町並みの中にある鐘撞堂で、川越のシンボル的な存在だ。 木造の三層構造で、櫓の高さは約16m。 1630年頃の創建以来3回も焼失しているが、その都度再建されている。 現在のものは1893年の大火災の翌年に再建された4代目だ。 今でも1日に1日4回(6時、12時、15時、18時)、趣深い音色で鐘が鳴っている。