3 Best Sights in The Kansai Region, Japan

This typically old-fashioned Western house was constructed in 1907 by an Englishman named Baker and served as a makeshift hospital during World War II. Now it's a house museum by day and an English pub by night. Antique baroque and Victorian furnishings dominate the interior, there are several downstairs bars, and a bottle of champagne rests in the bathtub. A classic black Jaguar in the driveway and an enormous moose head on the wall complete the English atmosphere.

This well-to-do merchant's house has been thoroughly restored, making it a quick trip through the Edo period. English pamphlets are available.

More elaborate than any other Kobe ijinkan, this one, built by a German trader in 1910, stands out strikingly in red brick at the north end of Kitano-cho. The interior reflects various traditional German architectural styles, including that of a medieval castle. Its architecture makes this the most famous ijinkan, but the interiors are spartan, with few additional attractions.