A Kitano Merchant's House Now in Sorakuen
The Former Hassam Residence (旧ハッサム住宅) is a foreigner's house built by the Englishman Hassam of around 1902 in Sorakuen, Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on June 7, 1961 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber house with a pantiled roof and a building area of 173.6 square metres, designated together with an annex, a storehouse and a gate; designation number 01523.
A Foreigner's House Moved from Kitano
The former Hassam Residence was built new in 1902 by the Englishman Hassam to designs by the architect Hansell (Agency for Cultural Affairs). As the Agency's name for it records, it originally stood in Kitano-cho in Kobe, and it now stands in Sorakuen. Its annex, storehouse and gate are designated with it.
Kobe City gives the owner as K. Hassam and the architect, by attribution, as the English architect Alex. N. Hansell.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency describes it as one of the finest foreigners' houses in Kobe.
What to Look For
Look at the house as a complete household, with its annex, storehouse and gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Kobe City and stands in the city's Sorakuen garden (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Kobe City, the garden is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and closed on Thursdays, except during the azalea and chrysanthemum seasons, and an admission fee is charged. The Hassam house, Kodera stables and Funayakata are introduced together on the Sorakuen page.
Q&A
- When was the house built?
- In 1902 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who built it?
- The Englishman Hassam, to designs by Hansell.
- Where did it stand originally?
- In Kitano-cho, Kobe.
- What else is designated with it?
- An annex, a storehouse and a gate.
- When was the Former Hassam Residence designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On June 7, 1961 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hassam Residence (旧ハッサム住宅) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sorakuen, 5-3-1 Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1961/06/07 (Showa 36) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with an annex, a storehouse and a gate) |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, pantiled roof, 173.6 m² |
| Owner | Kobe City |
| Public Access | Sorakuen 9:00-17:00, closed Thursdays, admission charged (Kobe City) |
References
- Former Hassam Residence (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2244
- Former Hassam Residence (Kobe City)
- https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/a21651/kanko/bunka/bunkashisetsu/foreigner/sub7.html
- Evaluation of the Management of Sorakuen, 2023 (Kobe City)
- https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/documents/18149/2.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.23
