Shōsen Mitsui Building, Historic commercial building in Kaigandōri, Japan.
The Shōsen Mitsui Building is a commercial structure in Kaigandōri with multiple floors and a balanced facade displaying classical Western architectural details. Large windows line the exterior, creating the typical appearance of early maritime commercial architecture from this period.
Architect Setsu Watanabe completed this building in 1922 when Kobe was Japan's leading maritime trading center. The creation period reveals how the city prospered economically during the interwar years while adopting Western architectural styles.
The building shows how Kobe blended European design with local building practices during the early 20th century as the port developed into a major trading center. Walking around it, you notice how the architecture reflects the city's openness to foreign influence while maintaining its own character.
The building sits in the waterfront Kaigandōri district and is easily reached on foot from the main station. The area is flat and pedestrian-friendly, making the walk to the site straightforward and pleasant.
The exterior maintains its original stonework and architectural details from 1922 that reflected maritime trading customs of that era. These crafted features are rare to find today and offer a window into the building methods of that time period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
