Meriken Park In Kobe - Spend Time By The Sea And Learn About History

2. Check Out the Monuments!

In 1896, Kobe had its first screening of a kinetoscope film. The Meriken Theater stone statue commemorates the occasion. If the hollow part of the stone is the screen, where is the audience?

Here they are! On the opposite side of the screen, there are 42 stones thought of as the audience, and the names of different movie stars are engraved into each one.

This family statue is a commemorative monument called Set Sail for Hope. It shows a historical scene of immigrants setting sail from Kobe Harbor to Brazil.

Other park monuments include the Kobe Kaientai statue and the Bell of Hortensia. Take a trip back in time as you think about what stories lie behind their creation.

3. Learn About History!

Photo provided by Kobe City

Meriken Park was established between the Meriken wharf and the Naka pier at the port of Kobe. Meriken comes from the word “American,” as the American consulate was nearby.

Photo provided by Kobe City

The port of Kobe would become one of Japan’s leading harbors, and the above photo is of Meriken Park all those years ago.

The moored barges filled in the ocean, and Meriken Park was built on top of this area in 1986.

The eye-catching building with the white roof is the Kobe Maritime Museum, where you can learn about the history of the marine area and port in depth. The red tower is the symbol of Kobe, the Kobe Port Tower.

4. Learn About the Threat of Natural Disasters and Say a Prayer for Those Who Lost Their Lives

At 5:46 AM on January 17th, 1995, the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake struck Japan, killing more than 6400 people and causing enormous damage to Kobe. The Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park was built in the northeast of Meriken Park to honor the spirits of the victims and to preserve people’s memories of the disaster. The black and gray circles indicate the timetable of the quake, using colored borders.

There are wharves left behind as they were at the time of the earthquake.

Looking at the crumbling concrete and slanted street lights, you can feel how massive it must have been.

Via videos and audio logs in English, Chinese and Korean, you can hear the real stories of the people who experienced the earthquake.

When we went, some Korean visitors were listening intently.

5. Take a Break at a Cafe!

Located south of the Kobe Port Tower, SO TABLE KOBE 0330 just opened in summer 2017. The beach-esque navy blue and white color scheme is what makes this cafe distinct. Enjoy Italian cuisine that makes great use of Kobe-sourced ingredients.

The Kobe Meriken Park Starbucks was built to feel like as though it were a ship setting sail. Enjoy delicious coffee as you look at the marvelous view.

How about taking a break at the FISH IN THE FOREST 〜TOOTH TOOTH x Sora Botanical Garden〜 cafe and restaurant, designed by plant hunter Seijun Nishihata?