Photo Gallery
Kobe Renga Soko (Red Brick Warehouses) : Things to See & Do
Said to have been built in the late 1890s (around Meiji 30) by Nihon Boeki Soko, the buildings served as Kobe Port warehouses until 1987, storing cargo such as shoes and electrical goods. In 1990 they were reborn as a restaurant row — the outer walls preserved in place while the roofs and interiors were remodeled — and in 2007 they were designated Important Landscape Buildings by the City of Kobe. The walls, of English-made brick laid in the English bond, still carry the atmosphere of Kobe's early port era.
Red Brick in the English Bond
The outer walls are English-made brick laid in the English bond — a method prized for strength and earthquake resistance — and still stand as they were over a century after they were built.
From Warehouse to Restaurant Row
The warehouses held cargo until 1987; in 1990 they were remodeled with the walls kept intact. Today they form a complex of restaurants, cafes, design shops, and photo studios.
Important Landscape Building
Designated an Important Landscape Building by the City of Kobe in 2007, preserved as a historic building that shapes the Harborland waterfront.
Kobe Renga Soko (Red Brick Warehouses) : Photo Spots & Tips
Best Shots
- — The illuminated brick walls and arched windows shot head-on
- — Night views from the seaside promenade with Mosaic's Ferris wheel behind
- — A close-up of the English-bond wall to emphasize its texture
Best Timing
- — After sunset into night (when the lighting is on)
- — The magic hour when the port's afterglow meets the lights
The shops have customers during opening hours. Please shoot with courtesy — avoid photographing shop interiors or other guests without permission.
Access
Train: About an 8-min walk from JR Kobe Station, Kosoku-Kobe Station, or Harborland subway station (continuous with Mosaic along the waterfront)
Car: About 8 min from Kyobashi IC on Hanshin Expressway Route 3 (use paid parking in the Harborland area)
