80302-0105-PP - View on Kobe

View from Mount Suwa (諏訪山), of eastern Kobe during the 1890s.

The road in the center is Yamamoto-dori (山本道), the small grove Jogaguchi Cemetery (城ケ口墓地). Behind it lies the residential district of Kitano-cho (北野町).

The temple-like building in the center is the Jogaguchi Lecture Hall of the Jodo Sect Honganji Branch of Buddhism (浄土真宗本願寺派の城ケ口説教所). It was built in 1875 (Meiji 8) as a response to the popularity of Chrisitianity in Kobe. The first prefectural government meeting was held here on May 13, 1879 (Meiji 12).

Yamamoto-dori was extended beyond Jogaguchi Lecture Hall in 1889 (Meiji 22), and this photo was taken shortly after.

Also see 80421-0001 – View on Kobe and blog entry, Kobe 1870s • View from Mount Suwa.