Just a few minutes’ walk from Kobe’s bustling Nankinmachi (Chinatown), the Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum offers a quiet space to explore the long relationship between Kobe and the Chinese community.
Since the port opened in 1868, Chinese residents have contributed to the city’s culture, trade, and education.
Through historical documents, artifacts, and the writings of key figures, this small museum tells a rich story of exchange that continues to shape Kobe today.
A Quiet Spot Just a Short Walk from Nankinmachi
Located along Kaigan-dori Avenue, the Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum is only about a five-minute walk from Kobe’s lively Nankinmachi.
While the surrounding area is calm and lined with Western-style buildings from the old foreign settlement, the museum quietly preserves the stories of the Chinese community that has been part of Kobe’s history for more than 150 years.
It’s a peaceful place to step away from the crowds and learn about the city’s multicultural roots.
The Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum stands along Kaigan-dori, near Kobe’s Chinatown.
The History of the Chinese Community That Began with the Opening of Kobe Port
Inside the museum, exhibits trace over 150 years of Chinese community life in Kobe.
When Kobe Port opened in 1868, many Chinese merchants and workers arrived seeking new opportunities.
They contributed greatly to the city’s development, establishing businesses, schools, and cultural connections.
Inside the museum, visitors can see everyday tools, trade documents, and photographs that illustrate how the Chinese community adapted and thrived in Japan while maintaining their traditions.
Sun Yat-sen and Liang Qichao — The Handwriting of Revolutionaries
An original handwritten piece by Sun Yat-sen on display inside the museum.
Among the exhibits are handwritten works by two key figures in modern Chinese history: Sun Yat-sen and Liang Qichao.
Both men visited Kobe and built ties with supporters here during their struggles for reform in China.
Seeing their original calligraphy up close gives a sense of the era’s spirit and the important role Kobe played as a place of international exchange.
Prominent Chinese Figures Who Made Their Mark in Japan
An autographed card from baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, presented to the museum.
The museum also highlights well-known individuals of Chinese descent who became cultural bridges between Japan and the wider world.
These include singer Teresa Teng, martial arts legend Bruce Lee, and baseball hero Sadaharu Oh.
Each of them contributed to strengthening mutual understanding and respect across cultures, symbolizing the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
🏛 Information
Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum
2F, KCC Building, 3-1-1 Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe
🕙 Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00
🚫 Closed: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, national holidays, and year-end/New Year holidays
🎟 Admission: Adults ¥300 / Students ¥200
