Former Kobe Sumitomo Building to be demolished

Former Kobe Sumitomo Building 1

The former Kobe Sumitomo Building in Kobe is going to be demolished this month.

Built in 1934, the 3-storey building was originally the Kobe branch of the Sumitomo Bank. It was a landmark in the former foreign settlement area around Motomachi.Read more


Last chance to save the Jonas Residence

Demolition of the historic Jonas Residence has been pushed back to October as the current owner is prepared to sell the house and land for 360 million Yen (approximately 3.6 million USD) if a buyer can be found.

Developer Anabuki Kosan purchased the waterfront property earlier this year and plan to tear it down and replace it with a 10-storey apartment building.Read more


Kobe Airport land not selling

Blocks of commercial land on the man-made Kobe Airport Island are not selling as well as expected. In 2011, not a single parcel of land was sold.

Construction of the island was financed through the issuance of municipal bonds, and the city planned to repay the bonds by selling off blocks of land to various enterprises.Read more


[Foreclosed] Ruins of Kobe Ijinkan

Auction estimate: 65,000,000 Yen

The ruins of a former ijinkan (western-style foreign residence) in Kobe's Kitano area are up for public auction.

Built in the Taisho period (1912 ~ 1926), the home was originally called the Bajaj Residence. During the pre-war days it was the official residence of the Iranian Consul General.Read more