[Kobe City] “Kobe City Museum” is a famous Showa-era building that was renovated from a former bank.

• Table of Contents
• Famous architecture of the Showa period "Kobe City Museum"
• Contains the national treasure Sakuragaoka dotaku and bronze dagger, as well as the important cultural property Xavier statue.
• The permanent exhibition area on the first floor can be visited for free.
• Also stop by the museum shop and cafe
• great value bus tickets
• basic information

Famous architecture of the Showa period "Kobe City Museum"

The Kobe City Museum was opened in 1982 by merging the Kobe Nanban Museum of Art, located in Chuo Ward, and the Kobe City Archaeological Museum, located in Suma Ward. This building was originally used as the Kobe branch of Yokohama Specie Bank (currently Mitsubishi UFJ Bank), but it was renovated and reborn as the Kobe City Museum.

It is said to be a masterpiece of architecture from the early Showa period, and was designated as a registered cultural property in 1998. Apparently, it is often visited by people interested in architecture.

Based on the fact that Kobe has long been an international port city and a gateway for cultural exchange with other countries, the museum holds exhibitions and other activities under the theme of "international cultural exchange, contact and transformation of Eastern and Western cultures." I am.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the building, which has a retro atmosphere. The person in charge of the design was Kotaro Sakurai, the first Japanese to become a Royal Architectural Institute Certified Architect.

The facade adopts the Doric style, one of the ancient Greek architectural styles, with six massive conical columns with slightly widened tops.

Contains the national treasure Sakuragaoka dotaku and bronze dagger, as well as the important cultural property Xavier statue.

The Kobe City Museum has approximately 70,000 items in its collection. Of these, 1 national treasure (21 items) and 7 important cultural properties (76 items). Among the treasured items in the museum's collection are the National Treasure, the Sakuragaoka Dotaku and Doka, and the Important Cultural Property, the Statue of St. Francis Xavier.

You can view these items in a dedicated exhibition room on the second floor (for a fee).

The "Sakuragaoka Dotaku/Dōdō" was accidentally discovered in the mountains of Sakuragaoka-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe City in 1964 during earth removal work.

It was designated as a national treasure because 14 bronze bells and seven bronze bells, which are said to have been made from the middle to late Yayoi period, were discovered together, and four of the bronze bells had elaborate paintings on them. Another reason is that it is highly evaluated artistically.

Take a close look at the picture drawn on the bronze bell.

The "St. Francis Xavier Statue", an important cultural property, is a painting discovered in 1920 in a private house in Sendaiji, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture. Speaking of Xavier, he is the person who spread Christianity to Japan. While Christian-related items were destroyed due to the ban on Christianity, this statue of Xavier secretly escaped destruction and is a valuable painting that has survived to the present day.

In order to preserve the work, the original work is only made available to the public for a limited period of time each year. During other periods, replicas will be on display, so if you want to see the real thing, be sure to check the official website for the actual exhibition period in advance.

In the collection exhibition room, we hold exhibitions on various themes for each period in four areas: ``Art,'' ``Vividro, Giyaman, and Glass,'' ``Old Maps,'' and ``Archaeology and History.''

Collection Exhibition Room (2nd floor) Admission fee: 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for university students, free for high school students and under. 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for university students with the special admission ticket on the day *Discounts are subject to change (please check at the general information desk on the 1st floor) Please check)

The permanent exhibition area on the first floor can be visited for free.

On the first floor of the ``Kobe City Museum,'' there is a permanent exhibition called ``Kobe History Exhibition Room,'' which you can tour for free. The history of Kobe is introduced chronologically, and you can learn about the history of Kobe, which flourished along with the sea and port.

Exhibition area related to Owada Tomari and Hyogo Tsu

Inside the "Kobe History Exhibition Room" there is also a "Regional Cultural Properties Exhibition Room" where you can learn more about Kobe's history (the themes change regularly).

In fact, this ``Regional Cultural Properties Exhibition Room'' used to be a safe in the days of the former Yokohama Specie Bank. When you look at the entrance, can you see that the walls are thick? It's kind of wonderful to think that Kobe's precious artworks are now carefully displayed in the place where the important safe was once located.

Inside the "Kobe History Exhibition Room," you should definitely take a look at the "Open Port Interaction with the World" area, where models of foreign visitors settlements from the Meiji era and former foreign visitors settlements from the Showa era are lined up. The model, which was created using reference materials, is extremely detailed and worth seeing.

A diorama model that includes not only buildings but also people.

There is also an ``information corner'' on the first floor with books and materials related to Kobe, and an ``experiential learning room'' for children that can be used free of charge.

In particular, the ``Experience Study Room'' has items that you can learn while experiencing, such as making a replica of a bronze bell ring and character puzzles, so it is recommended that you visit as part of your social studies studies.

Also stop by the museum shop and cafe

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Photo provided by: "Kobe City Museum"

When visiting an art museum, some people may look forward to buying souvenirs at the museum shop. The Kobe City Museum also has a museum shop on the first floor, which is also free to use.

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Photo provided by: "Kobe City Museum"

Goods related to the St. Francis Xavier statue are popular. There are many original Kobe City Museum products, and some can be purchased at the online shop.

basic information

Museum shop business hours: Weekdays 9:30-17:30, Fridays and Saturdays until 19:30

Closed: As a general rule, Mondays (in the case of holidays, the next weekday)

*Items may vary depending on the special exhibition.

*In addition to the year-end and New Year holidays, the museum may be closed or opened on special occasions such as maintenance closures.

Next to the museum shop is the museum cafe "TOOTH TOOTH Dekobo Kosabou". Why not enjoy a leisurely tea time while enjoying our original sweets that incorporate the essence of Japan into Western sweets?

basic information

TOOTH TOOTH Dekobokosabo (Toothtooth Dekobokosabou )

Business hours: 9:30-17:30 (LO 16:30), Fridays and Saturdays until 19:00 (LO 18:30)

Regular holidays: Same as closed days

(Writer Nakata/West Plan)

*This article is information as of July 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change.

great value bus tickets

Kobe 1-day bus ticket

This is for sightseeing in Kobe city! This is a bus ticket that allows you to ride the City Loop and Port Loop that run through Kobe city as much as you like for 700 yen a day. If you want to visit sightseeing spots in Kobe, use this ticket for an easy and comfortable trip.

Click here for purchase and details of Kobe 1-day bus ticket

Hyogo Amazing Pass

This ticket is recommended for those who are considering touring around Himeji and Hyogo prefectures other than Kobe! Kobe 1-day bus ticket contents + A mobile ticket that allows you to ride unlimited Shinki Bus routes for 1,000 yen per day. *Limited to foreign visitors tourists visiting Japan

Click here for purchase and details of Hyogo Amazing Pass

basic information

Kobe City Museum

Address: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 078-391-0035

Business hours: 9:30-17:30 (Admission until 17:00)

*Open until 19:30 on Fridays and Saturdays during special exhibitions (admission until 19:00)

*Opening hours vary depending on the special exhibition. Please check the website.

Closed: Mondays (Open if Monday is a holiday. Closed on the following weekday)

Admission fee: Kobe History Exhibition Room (1st floor): Free ・Collection Exhibition Room (2nd floor): General 300 yen, University students 150 yen, High school students and younger free (General 200 yen if you show your special exhibition admission ticket on the day) University students 100 yen)

*Discounts are subject to change. Please check the general information on the 1st floor.・Special exhibition: Varies depending on the exhibition

Access: 10 minutes walk from Sannomiya Station or Motomachi Station on each line

Parking: None

HP: https://www.kobecitymuseum.jp/

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