"Xmas Street" at Kobe Kitano Ijinkan

If you exit the east exit of the Hankyu Sannomiya station and walk up the Kitano-zaka slope for about 15 minutes, there are many western-style houses built here. Accompanying the opening of the Kobe Port in 1868, a foreign settlement area was created at the west side of Mt. Rokko which had a good view and became a popular residential place for foreigners. More than 200 Western-style houses (ijinkan) were built and gave the landscape an exotic view. Approximately 60 houses left of the original Western-style houses. Encircled by an enchanting light, the Western-style houses (ijinkan) take on an extremely romantic atmosphere at night. From December to January, the area around Kitano Ijinkan serves as host to the event "Kobe-Kitano Christmas Street," and the Kitano Hill is lit up for 300 meters with 18,000 Christmas lights.