Japan’s only “official lighthouse built in a hotel” at Kobe Meriken Park

The official lighthouse at Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel (Chuo-ku, Kobe), the only one of its kind in Japan, will be open to the public on January 17, 2025, “Hyogo Safety Day,” the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Admission is free.

The doors will open between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day, and since reservations are not required, anyone is free to view the lighthouse from the balcony on the 14th floor of the building.

Former Oriental Hotel

In 1964, the former Oriental Hotel moved to Kyomachi, Kobe, and installed Japan’s first lighthouse on the roof as a symbol of the port city of Kobe. The lighthouse was also temporarily extinguished.

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel

On July 7, 1995, the day of the opening reception for the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, the lighthouse was turned on again at 7:07 p.m. with 777 fireworks and became an official lighthouse, officially approved by the Japan Coast Guard. As an official lighthouse officially authorized by the Japan Coast Guard, it continues to watch over the Port of Kobe without a single day of rest.

Monument to Emperor Showa

In addition to the lighthouse, the hotel has also inherited the “Monument to the Emperor Showa” and the “Onigawara” tile that was installed in the former Oriental Hotel, which can be seen together with the lighthouse at this open-house event (the tile is located by the main entrance on the third floor).

Onigawara

The event will be held in case of rain on the day of the event, and will be cancelled in case of inclement weather. Please check the hotel’s official website for the latest information on the event.

<A word from the reporter>
The lighthouse open house event is held twice a year, on January 17 (Hyogo Safety Day) and November 1 (Lighthouse Day), and attracts many visitors each time. Be sure to catch a glimpse of the lighthouse that has been inherited by Kobe Meriken Park Oriental.

Detailed information

Date of the event

Friday, January 17, 2025

Place

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, 14th Floor Balcony
(5-6 Wharf-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe)
Google Map

Hours

15:00-17:00

Inquiries

tel 078-325-8111 (main)

• Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel official website https://www.kobe-orientalhotel.co.jp/topics/90/