Thursday, December 30, 2010

Kobe Kitano Ijinkan (神戸北野異人館店)



Kitano-monogatari Kan


This two story wooden house was built in 1907 (40th year of Meiji Period). This is a typical colonial-style architecture with oil-painted clapboard exterior wall built in Japanese "yosemune-zukuri" - a rectangular building, covered with a hipped roof of San-gawara (glazed ceramic tiles). The wooden-framed glass windows have shutters with bay windows for the 1st floor and oriel windows for the 2nd floor.
The house has a balcony, a symbol of colonial-style at the southeast corner above the entrance.

The house was originally located in Kitano 1-chome before the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Unfortunately, the building was hard hit by the earthquake and had to be torn down.

Then American owner, Mr. M.J.S decided to donate his building to Kobe City. The City kept the materials of the building before it was rebuilt in this location. This building is a precise reproduction based on the same architecture as the original although the orientation of the structure has been adjusted in accordance with the configuration of the land. In addition, frames are reinforced with new materials and metal to meet with the current quake-resistance standard, which can be seen from the small window in the room.








Full Leaf Chai Tea Latte


Second Floor Hallway

Living Room Entrance



Sunroom Entrance




A rare wooden Starbucks Logo Sign made just for this store.






3-1-31 Kitano-cho Chuo-ku
Kobe-shi, Hyogo

兵庫県神戸市
中央区北野町3-1-31

078-230-6302

Everyday: 8am-10pm

1 comment:

  1. This must be the world's most unique Starbucks...

    hee hee..
    Later this week, «Louis» will be introducing a new coffee blend "M.O.O." - 'Medium (roast) Organic Original'

    ReplyDelete