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must-visit in KobeFood & Dining

Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)

📍 1-3-18 Sakaemachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0023, Japan
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3.8/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Japan, Kobe
Category
Food & Dining
Duration
30-60 min
Address
1-3-18 Sakaemachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0023, Japan
Coordinates
34.6881, 135.1884

Introduction

Nankinmachi in Kobe's Motomachi is one of Japan's three great Chinatowns, with Yokohama and Nagasaki. After Kobe Port opened in 1868, Chinese migrants from Guangdong and Fujian settled west of the foreign concession; the quarter was rebuilt after WWII bombing and the 1995 Hanshin earthquake. Today over a hundred shops pack a red-and-gold grid of 200 by 110 metres, framed by the Changan Gate and the central Azumaya pavilion with its twelve zodiac statues. Street food — xiaolongbao, pork buns, sesame balls, roast duck — is the draw, and Roshoki (founded 1915) is the famed butaman shop. Lion dances and lanterns fill the street at Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn.

✨ Highlights

1
Three Chinatowns
With Yokohama and Nagasaki, Japan's top three.
2
Changan Gate
The Chinese arch marking the east entrance.
3
Nankinmachi Square
Azumaya pavilion and zodiac statues.
4
Roshoki butaman
Pork buns since 1915, a Kobe icon.
5
Street food
Xiaolongbao, sesame balls, roast duck.
6
Festival lanterns
Lion dances at New Year, Mid-Autumn lights.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：1-3-18 Sakaemachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe.
→Closed：Street never closes; some shops have days off.
→Note：Crowded weekends and New Year; weekday mornings best.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday00:00-23:59
Tuesday00:00-23:59
Wednesday00:00-23:59
Thursday00:00-23:59
Friday00:00-23:59
Saturday00:00-23:59
Sunday00:00-23:59

The street is open 24 hours; shops mostly 10:00-18:30 or until sold out; festivals at Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free AdmissionFree to stroll

Food at own cost; Roshoki butaman 5 pcs JPY 600, restaurants extra

Transportation

Subway

3-5 min from JR/Hanshin Motomachi east exit; 2 min from Kyukyuchi-Daimaru-mae

Note

No cars inside; coin parking nearby; pair with Motomachi and the Old Settlement

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)?

Monday: 00:00-23:59; Tuesday: 00:00-23:59; Wednesday: 00:00-23:59; Thursday: 00:00-23:59; Friday: 00:00-23:59; Saturday: 00:00-23:59; Sunday: 00:00-23:59; The street is open 24 hours; shops mostly 10:00-18:30 or until sold out; festivals at Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn

How much is the admission for Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)?

Free Admission: Free to stroll; Food at own cost; Roshoki butaman 5 pcs JPY 600, restaurants extra

How long should I spend at Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)?

A typical visit takes 30-60 min.

How do I get to Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)?

Subway: 3-5 min from JR/Hanshin Motomachi east exit; 2 min from Kyukyuchi-Daimaru-mae