Kitano-chō

nihongo|Kitano-chō|北野町 or nihongo|Kitano Ijinkan|北野異人館 is a historical district in Kobe, Japan, which contains a number of foreign residences from the late Meiji and early Taishō eras of Japanese history. While the term nihongo|"ijinkan"|異人館 can refer to any foreign residence of this period in Japan, it usually refers to those of Kitano given the number and high concentration of those that remain. "Ijinkan" districts exist in other locales (notably Yokohama and Nagasaki), but due to war and natural disasters, these districts are not as well preserved. [Igarashi, J. "Kobe Ijinkan," [http://www.river-f.com/store/backissue/2002/page/jan02.htm#Anchor89289 Eye-Ai] , January 2002, retrieved February 15, 2007]

While some of the houses still serve as residences, many are open to tourists, making Kitano-chō one of the principal tourist attractions in Kobe. [ [http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=kobe@184&cur_section=sig&property_id=135182 Fodor's] - "Kobe Sights & Activities: Kitano", retrieved February 15, 2007]

References

External links

*en icon [http://kouhou.city.kobe.jp/magazine/backnum/backnumber0613/english/tokusyu/kitano.html City of Kobe: photo a la Carte] - a collection of photos and stories of the Kitano Ijinkan area
*ja icon [http://www.ijinkan.net/ Ijinkan Net] - Tourist site with maps and information on the Kitano Ijinkan area