Sannomiya Central Street

Sannomiya Central Street

Introduction

The area from "Sannomiya" to "Motomachi" is the central district of Kobe. Strolling along Sannomiya Central Street and Motomachi Shopping Street offers a delightful experience of gourmet food and shopping.

To the south of Sannomiya, on the west side of Hanamichi, lies the "Former Foreign Settlement," where foreign merchants resided when Kobe Port first opened to the outside world. This area features many nostalgic Western-style buildings as well as specialty shops for imported goods and cafés, making it a great spot for shopping and leisurely walks.

Kobe’s Chinatown, also known as "Nankinmachi," is a district where the Chinese community has gathered since 1868. At that time, the Qing government established a consulate in Kobe, leading to flourishing Sino-Japanese trade and a growing Chinese population in the city. As the “kitchen” of the Chinese community, Nankinmachi has continued to prosper and now houses over 100 restaurants and grocery stores, brimming with rich traditional Chinese character and lively atmosphere.

 Kobe, Japan