Kobe Maritime Museum
With its characteristic white space frame roof giving the impression of sailboat racing across the vast ocean, the Kobe Maritime Museum offers a look at the international port city of Kobe. Under the concept of, “Born from the sea and port, sailing into the future with Kobe,” the Maritime Museum opened in 1987 to celebrate the Port of Kobe’s 120th anniversary, marking 120 years since the modern Port of Kobe was opened in 1868. Offering a glimpse at ship construction and a look at port facilities and the appeal of cruise ships, the museum is a place where visitors can experience the history and future of the seas, ships, and ports. Through resources including actual navigation instruments, riggings, and ship records, diorama models, videos, and graphics, visitors are introduced to the past, present, and future of the seas, ships, and ports around Kobe in an easy-to-understand way. Also, a part of the Meriken wharf, damaged in the Great Hanshin earthquake, is preserved as the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park. This memorial park acts to convey the messages learned from the earthquake to future generations. Opened in 2006, Kawasaki Good Times World can also be found right nearby. This corporate museum is operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which has helped the city advance since the Port of Kobe first opened.
