Visiting Kitano Ijinkan today
- What it is: A hillside district of Meiji- and Taisho-era foreign merchants' homes. The red-brick Weathercock House (Kazamidori no Yakata) and the pale-green Moegi House sit side by side, and Kitano Tenmangu shrine is at the top.
- Getting there: About 15 minutes' walk uphill from JR Sannomiya Station, or about 15 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station. There is no parking at the houses, so use public transport.
- Hours: Weathercock House 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:45) in 2026 reports. Closed the third Tuesday of the month, or the next day if that Tuesday is a holiday.
- Admission: Weathercock House ¥500 for adults, free for high school students and younger. A combined ticket with Moegi House next door costs less than two single tickets. The street and Kitano Tenmangu are free.
- Tip: The Weathercock House reopened in July 2025 after earthquake-proofing work. Go early to beat tour groups, then climb the steps to Kitano Tenmangu for a view over the port.
Best timeGood any time of yearGood any time; the uphill walk is easier in spring and autumn.
Checked against: Weathercock House (Kazamidori no Yakata) – Hyogo Tourism · Weathercock House – Feel Kobe (official Kobe tourism) · Kobe City press release on the Weathercock House reopening (Mar 2026) · Kazamidori no Yakata – Kiss PRESS (Apr 2026). Check opening times and prices before you go.
Kitano Ijinkan on Shibuya246
Photos and stories from our visits, as they were written at the time.
Travel
Kitano-cho, Kobe
On the last day of my Shikoku trip I crossed over to Kobe and spent a rainy Sunday walking around Kitano-cho, the hillside district above Sannomiya where…