Uroko House & Observation Gallery, Art museum in Kitano-cho, Kobe, Japan
Uroko House is an art museum housed in a two-story Victorian wooden structure whose walls are covered with slate tiles arranged in a fish scale pattern. The building contains paintings by European artists and features an observation gallery on its upper level.
Built in 1905 as a luxury rental property for foreigners in a settlement area, the building takes its name from its distinctive slate tiles and was moved to its current location in Kitano-cho during the Taisho period.
The building displays artworks from European painters across different periods and movements. This collection reflects the historical connection between Japan and the West that shaped both the structure and its cultural purpose.
The museum is easily reached on foot and sits in a historic neighborhood with other similar buildings nearby. The observation gallery at the top is accessible from inside the building and offers views across the city.
The roof uses natural slate tiles that gave the place its name and appear particularly striking in moonlight. This building method was uncommon for foreign residences of that era and makes the structure instantly recognizable.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
