Kobayashi Family House (Former Sharp House)

Moegi House, the American Consul's Home in Kitano

The Kobayashi Family House (Former Sharp House) (小林家住宅（旧シャープ住宅）) is a Western-style residence of around 1903 in Kitanocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on December 18, 1980 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a two-storey timber house with a partial third floor and a pantile roof, covering 210.4 square metres; designation number 02111.

A Colonial-Style House in Kitano

The Kobayashi Family House (the former Sharp House) stands within the Kitano preservation district for groups of traditional buildings: a colonial-style house with a typical entrance-hall plan (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Kobe City says it was built in 1903 as the home of Hunter Sharp, the American consul, and that in 1944 a former president of the Kobe Electric Railway of the Kobayashi family bought it from a German owner and lived there until 1978. A half-dismantling restoration from 1987 to 1989 brought back the original colour of its walls, and it is now known as Moegi House (Moegi no Yakata).

Why It Is an Important Cultural Property

Its side elevation with two bay windows of different shapes and its handling of the entrance hall are outstanding, making it one of the finest Western-style houses left in Kobe (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It was designated an Important Cultural Property on December 18, 1980.

What to Look For

Look for the two differently shaped bay windows on the side and the entrance hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

According to Kobe City, it is open to the public as Moegi House from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:45), closed on the third Wednesday and Thursday of February. Admission is 500 yen for adults (revised April 1, 2026) and free for high school students and younger. The address is 3-10-11 Kitanocho.