Former Hunter House, Western residence in Aotani-cho, Kobe, Japan
The Former Hunter House is a Western residence in Aotani-chō featuring elaborate details such as diamond-shaped lattice windows, colonnaded balconies, stained glass panels, and a marble mantelpiece. The structure combines brick and timber in a blend of Western and Japanese construction elements.
Constructed in 1889 for Edward Hazlett Hunter, founder of Osaka Iron Works, the house demonstrates the integration of Western architecture during Japan's Meiji period. It emerged when Kobe was developing into a major trading port for international commerce.
The residence exemplifies the ijinkan style, a Western home design that emerged in Kobe for foreign merchants and diplomats during the early 1890s. These structures reflect how international residents created their own living spaces within Japanese cities.
The residence is situated within the Kobe Oji Zoo and is open daily with no admission charge. The location is easily accessible by public transportation, making it convenient to visit alongside other attractions on the zoo grounds.
The exterior walls display a distinctive comb-pattern finish that gives the house a distinctive appearance. This surface treatment is a rare feature among surviving ijinkan residences in Japan and merits careful observation during a visit.
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