Neighbourhood in Chuo Ward, Kobe
Nankinmachi and the Old Settlement
南京町
Kobe's Chinatown of street food and red gates, next to the stone buildings of the old foreign settlement and the Motomachi shopping arcade.
- places to see
- 8
- walk past the highlights
- 0.6 km
- Hyogo
- Chuo Ward, Kobe
Nankinmachi is Kobe's Chinatown, just south of Motomachi Station. It began in 1868, when the port of Kobe opened to foreigners, including Chinese merchants from Guangdong and Fujian. Today it has over a hundred Chinese restaurants and shops packed into two short streets, and most visitors graze on dumplings and buns from the stalls.
East of Nankinmachi is the Former Foreign Settlement, where Western traders built offices and banks. Its oldest surviving building, No. 15, and the Kobe City Museum in an old bank stand among modern shops. The covered Motomachi arcade runs along the north side, and more of the ward is in our Chuo ward guide.
Don't miss in Nankinmachi and the Old Settlement
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)
南京町Kobe's compact Chinatown, two crossing streets of food stalls and restaurants.
2. Former Foreign Settlement No. 15
旧居留地十五番館The oldest surviving building of the old foreign settlement, a two-storey former consulate.
3. Kobe City Museum
神戸市立博物館City museum in a former bank building, covering Kobe's long history of trade with the world.
Walk Nankinmachi and the Old Settlement in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 0.6 km in all.
Stop 1
Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)
Start here
Stop 2
Former Foreign Settlement No. 15
7 min walk
Stop 3
Kobe City Museum
1 min walk
More around Nankinmachi and the Old Settlement
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Fish Dance
フィッシュ・ダンスA historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park
神戸港震災メモリアルパークA park in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Kobe Lampwork Glass Museum
KOBEとんぼ玉ミュージアムA museum in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Kobe Maritime Museum
神戸海洋博物館Museum under a white sail-like roof in Meriken Park, on the history of Kobe's port.
Kawasaki Good Times World
カワサキワールドA museum in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Nankinmachi and the Old Settlement on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
Where is Kobe Chinatown?
Nankinmachi is right next to Motomachi Station on the JR and Hanshin lines, a few minutes' walk south. Sannomiya is about ten minutes away on foot.
What should I eat in Nankinmachi?
Steamed pork buns, dumplings and Peking duck wraps from the street stalls are the classic picks. Sit-down restaurants serve full Chinese meals.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Hyogo
- Meriken Park and HarborlandKobe's waterfront: the red Port Tower, the maritime museum and an earthquake memorial in Meriken Park, with Harborland's shops across the water.
- KitanoA hillside district above central Kobe with Western-style houses built by foreign merchants and diplomats more than a century ago.
