It's about a 20-minute uphill walk from kobe sannomiya station to kitano ijinkan, a popular kobe tourist destination. following the opening of kobe port in 1868 (keio 3), it became a residential area for many foreigners. even today, numerous western-style houses built during the meiji and taisho periods remain, giving the hilltop area the feel of a foreign town. nearly 15 of these houses are open to the public, allowing visitors to enjoy a townscape brimming with exotic charm.