Kobe Meriken Building, Historic commercial building in Kaigandōri, Japan

The Kobe Meriken Building is a three-story structure on Kaigandōri, just north of Meriken Wharf, on the site of the first US consulate. Built in 1918 as the Nippon Yusen Kobe branch, it originally had a copper roof and a circular dome, both lost in the 1945 air raid. The ground floor now holds shops, with offices above.

The building was designed in 1918 by architects Sone Tatsuzō and Chūjō Seiichirō during a period of major architectural modernization in Japan. It represents the shift from traditional to modern construction methods in the early 20th century.

The building shows Western architectural styles combined with Japanese construction methods, reflecting Kobe's international character during its development period. Visitors can observe this blend in the classical details and structural approach that define the structure.

The building stands in Kaigandōri, an 8-minute walk from Kyūkyoryūchi-Daimarumae Station on the Kaigan subway line and about 10 minutes from Motomachi Station on the Hanshin and JR lines. Above the ground-floor shops, offices are reached by an entrance on the west side of the building. From sunset until 22:00 the facade is lit up.

The structure withstood the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 and remains one of the few original buildings from its era in the port district. Its durability is evident in its ability to resist such a devastating event while many surrounding structures were damaged.