Kitano

Kobe
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.


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Kitano Hotel Deals

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 ¥8,581 per night from Apr 16 to Apr 17
¥8,581
per night
Apr 16 - Apr 17
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,015 reviews)
"Great location right next to subway station, Dotonbori’s night market, Glico sign, and KUROMON fish market. However rooms are a bit dirty also only 3 laundry machines for probably 1,000 rooms."

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2024

Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka - Namba
Hotel New Hankyu Osaka
Hotel New Hankyu Osaka
3.5 out of 5
1-1-35 Shibata 1, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka-fu
Fully refundable
The price is ¥10,550 per night from Apr 15 to Apr 16
¥10,550
per night
Apr 15 - Apr 16
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, 3 restaurants, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,330 reviews)
"Very convenient location. Just one minor thing is that the bedding is a bit too heavy that it kept on slipping down. Overall, great experience."

Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024

Hotel New Hankyu Osaka
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA
4 out of 5
1-1 Ofukacho, Kita, Osaka, Osaka
The price is ¥20,213 per night from Apr 16 to Apr 17
¥20,213
per night
Apr 16 - Apr 17
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,310 reviews)
"Great hotel well positioned, highly recommend"

Reviewed on Mar 18, 2024

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA
APA HOTEL&RESORT〈OSAKA UMEDA EKI TOWER〉
APA HOTEL&RESORT〈OSAKA UMEDA EKI TOWER〉
3 out of 5
2-8-32 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka
The price is ¥9,000 per night from Apr 14 to Apr 15
¥9,000
per night
Apr 14 - Apr 15
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (901 reviews)
"The room was small but very clean and well equipped. It had everything we needed. Highly recommended!!"

Reviewed on Mar 12, 2024

APA HOTEL&RESORT〈OSAKA UMEDA EKI TOWER〉
Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
4 out of 5
1-12-8 Sonezakishinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka
The price is ¥13,135 per night from Mar 20 to Mar 21
¥13,135
per night
Mar 20 - Mar 21
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,007 reviews)
"Staff cleaning the rooms did an amazing job! Room was always cleaned on time and towels changed. Hotel is near Umeda & Osaka station, making it easier to travel to places like Osaka castle & Dotonbori. Toilet was small but had everything you will need. Staff was polite and pleasant to interact with. ..."

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2024

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka
Citadines Namba Osaka
Citadines Namba Osaka
4 out of 5
3-5-25 Nippombashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
The price is ¥14,400 per night from Apr 17 to Apr 18
¥14,400
per night
Apr 17 - Apr 18
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Osaka. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (709 reviews)
"Amazing staff, couldn’t be more helpful. The gym, the family lounge and the laundry were just what I needed to get organised and relaxed before travelling home"

Reviewed on Mar 15, 2024

Citadines Namba 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 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 Shin-Kobe Ropeway.

Chuo Ward
Sannomiya featuring road cycling, signage and street scenes

Sannomiya

4.5/5(55 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like Ikuta Shrine while getting to know Sannomiya, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station or Boeki Center Station to see more of the area.

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

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

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

Hatobacho

If you're spending some time in Hatobacho, Kawasaki Good Times World and Meriken Park 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 Culture Hall and Harborland Park.

Shinkaichi


Kitano