A literary museum located in a neo-Gothic former library, dedicated to the writers and poets who shaped Kobe’s cultural legacy.
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Housed in a striking red-brick Neo-Gothic building originally built in 1904 as the Ijinkan Library, the Kobe City Museum of Literature celebrates the city’s rich storytelling tradition. The space combines architectural grandeur with intellectual depth—vaulted ceilings, arched windows, and preserved wooden fixtures surround a series of exhibits dedicated to Kobe-born and -based writers across genres and eras. From the haiku of the Meiji period to modern fiction, the museum highlights the role of literature in shaping the city’s identity, especially following the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Rotating exhibits, author profiles, and a tranquil reading room encourage visitors to reflect on the enduring power of the written word in a city where East and West, old and new, continue to meet.
Facilities & Services
- Permanent and special literary exhibitions
- Reading room
- Historic architecture
- Small museum shop
- Accessible restrooms
Contact
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