Kobe · Sannomiya
Nankinmachi
Nankinmachi was born with the opening of the port in 1868. China then had no treaty with Japan, so the Chinese were not allowed to live in the foreign settlement, and settled west of it. The district was destroyed in the bombing of 1945, was later a black market, and from the 70s was restored as a street of restaurants and stalls.
The area is about 270 meters from east to west and about 110 from north to south. At the east entrance is the Choanmon gate from 1985, which according to the association is the first marble gate China allowed to be exported, and at the west entrance the Seianmon gate from 2005, built as a symbol of the recovery after the earthquake. In the center is a square with a pavilion and statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.
The famous stall is Roushouki, founded in 1915, which according to the shop coined the term 'butaman' for the steamed pork bun. The butaman has been ¥120 each since October 2024. The old building was torn down for a rebuild planned to finish around November 2026, and until then they sell at the sister shop facing the square.
Good to know
- On weekends and holidays the line at Roushouki takes half an hour to an hour, according to the shop. Its closing days change and are posted on its website every month.
- The big event of the year is the Chinese Spring Festival, around the Lunar New Year, with lion and dragon dances and a parade. In 2026 it ran from 17 to 23 February. In September there is also a Mid-Autumn Festival.
- The closest station is Kyu-Kyoryuchi-Daimarumae on the subway Kaigan Line, about 2 minutes' walk.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Nankinmachi.
- HereNankinmachi
- 1 min
Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street Street
A covered arcade of about 1.2 km with about 300 shops, which got its name in 1874. It runs parallel to Nankinmachi, just north of it, and reaches JR Kobe Station.
- ~4 min
Kobe Fugetsudo Motomachi Main Store Shopping
The main store of the gaufre maker, thin wafers filled with cream, on Motomachi street. The store also has a cafe with pancakes and seasonal parfaits.
- ~6 min
Kobe City Museum More to see
In the former Yokohama Specie Bank building from 1935, with Doric columns. From 10 October to 13 December 2026 it shows an exhibition on Tove Jansson and the Moomins, ¥2,200. Closed on Monday.
- ~7 min
Salon15 TOOTH TOOTH, Former Kobe Foreign Settlement No.15 Cafe
A tea room and patisserie in Building No. 15 of the foreign settlement, from 1880 or 1881, the only building left from the settlement era (1868 to 1899) and an Important Cultural Property. It collapsed in the 1995 earthquake and was restored. On the first floor there are cakes and tea, and on the second a salon with seasonal afternoon tea.
- ~9 min
Kobe Plaisir Food
A Kobe beef restaurant run by the local cooperative.
- ~12 min
Steak Land Kobe-kan Food
Steak on a griddle in front of the diners. At lunch 150 grams of Kobe beef for ¥3,500, with salad, vegetables, rice, miso soup and coffee. Regular steak (not Kobe) from ¥1,380. No lunch from 1 to 3 January. Not kosher.
- ~13 min
Kobe Nishimura Coffee, Nakayamate main store Cafe
It opened in 1948 with only three tables, and moved to its current location in 1952.
Appears in: Kobe: the herb garden by ropeway, the foreigners' houses of Kitano, Chinatown and Kobe beef