Kobe Business District

After lunch, I wandered through Kobe’s vibrant business district, where the city’s international heritage is on full display. The area is lined with impressive Western-style architecture—a testament to Kobe’s role as a major trading port since the Meiji era. I passed the German-inspired Hotel Konigs-Krone, a unique hotel and patisserie that blends European charm with Japanese hospitality. Nearby, the elegant Kobe St. Morgan Church stood out with its magnificent 19th-century stained glass windows, a rare and beautiful example of Western ecclesiastical design in Japan. The district also boasts luxury boutiques like Cocomeister, where exquisite leather goods are showcased in a historic building. Walking these streets, I was struck by the harmonious mix of old European influences and modern Japanese sophistication, making Kobe’s commercial heart a truly cosmopolitan destination