Kodera Stable, Traditional stable in Sōraku-en, Japan
Kodera Stable is a two-story L-shaped building in Kobe that served horses and carriages. The ground floor contains a carriage garage while the upper level provided living space for workers.
The stable was built in 1910 by architect Kawai Kōzō for Kodera Kenkichi, who served as Kobe's mayor. It survived World War II destruction and remains a significant example of that building era.
The stable shows how Japanese builders during the Meiji period welcomed Western building styles and combined them with their own methods. You can see this blend clearly in the materials used and how the space was organized.
The stable sits within the Sōraku-en Garden and is easy to locate as you explore the grounds. Wearing comfortable shoes helps since you will likely walk through other parts of the garden too.
The building keeps its original wooden framework and decorative details from that era. Few stable buildings from the early 20th century have survived with as much of their original character as this one.
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