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Kobe Pearl Museum image

Kobe Pearl Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Local history museum

👍👍 It seems like it's usually only open on weekdays, but I heard on the news that there was an auction event going on so I went there on Sunday. I won the pearl at a very reasonable price and had it made into a pendant top on the spot using Kobe's excellent processing technology. It is said that the pe... People often mention pearls, free, Kobe, pearl, history, museum, building,


Address

122-1 Higashimachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0031, Japan

Contact

+81 78-331-4031

Rating on Google Maps

3.90 (46 reviews)

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Working Hours

Permanently closed.

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: pearls (17) free (12) Kobe (10) pearl (8) history (8) museum (6) building (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 h n. 4 years ago on Google • 25 reviews
    It seems like it's usually only open on weekdays, but I heard on the news that there was an auction event going on so I went there on Sunday. I won the pearl at a very reasonable price and had it made into a pendant top on the spot using Kobe's excellent processing technology. It is said that the pearls of the world gather in Kobe. At the shop attached to the museum, you can purchase authentic items at very reasonable prices. I think it would be a good idea to give a presentation to people from other countries.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 hide o. 6 years ago on Google • 1072 reviews
    It's run for free, but there's no reception desk, and you can hear men laughing from the back. I wonder what this facility is for. If it's PR for the industry, it probably needs a little more thought when it comes to running it, but it was a really nice facility that made me think it was probably run by retired corporate employees.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 U1 1 year ago on Google • 618 reviews
    I learned about its existence at a museum rally and visited. Cross the traffic light on the sea side of Kobe City Museum towards Osaka and go straight. It's about a 3-4 minute walk. Materials related to pearls are displayed near the entrance on the first floor of an old building. Admission is free and there is no staff, so you can just come in and have a look. I think it's okay to go once, as there aren't any changes to exhibits.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 がんばれサンチェ 3 years ago on Google • 6 reviews
    I went in June 2019. It was not damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and was built 67 years ago, and the wavy window glass appears to be the same as when it was built. The office on the second floor used to house a hotel restaurant, and the ceiling lights didn't have the fluorescent lights we have today, but only indirect lighting. There weren't many visitors, but the museum was interesting, and it was free!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 小倉恵美 1 year ago on Google • 1095 reviews
    As soon as you enter the building, there is no reception and you can immediately enjoy the exhibits for free. I didn't know anything about the history of pearls in Kobe, so it was very interesting, and the exhibits broadened my perspective.

  • 3/5 手賀の光 4 years ago on Google • 275 reviews
    You can view the history of pearls and processing methods for free. There is no reception, so you just walk in and leave. If you like pearls, please check it out.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 南井文 1 year ago on Google • 49 reviews
    Scheduled to close on March 31, 2023 The reason why Kobe is famous for its pearls, including the fact that pearl farming began in Japan for the first time in the world. The pearl tree in the lobby is spectacular.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nafesa N. 4 years ago on Google • 318 reviews
    Historical building. Good to visit and it's free! You can learn about pearls and it's existence in Kobe. Some explanation are in English
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Minami N. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) It is a facility where you can study environmental issues as well as the history of pearls and jewelry. And it's free! The staff was very nice, and I was able to take my time looking at the exhibition, which was free and satisfying. I didn't know there were so many kinds of pearls, and I was surprised to learn that pearls other than pearl oysters can be produced. The entrance is small and a bit difficult to find, but the exhibits were interesting and informative. (Original) 真珠の歴史、ジュエリーの歴史と一緒に環境問題まで勉強できる施設です。しかも無料! スタッフさんもとても感じが良くて、ゆっくり見ることができ、無料ながら満足できる展示でした。 真珠の種類がこんなにも豊富だとは知らず、またアコヤガイ以外でも真珠ができると知って驚きました。 入り口が小さく、少し見つけづらいですが展示内容は勉強になる点も多く、面白かったです。
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Shlomo S. 11 months ago on Google • 29 reviews
    Permanently closed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 りゃふらふ 1 year ago on Google • 279 reviews
    Admission is free. The museum is generally not open on Saturdays and Sundays, so it's difficult to get to. Only the entrance area on the 1st floor is on display. There is no attached cafe, but coffee and other items are sold for 300 yen. However, there is no table so it will be a bench. (Behind the bench is a panel display, so there is no dedicated space itself.) From the name of the Pearl Museum, it seems that jewelry made with various pearls will be exhibited, but although there are some modern art-like crafts, the exhibition is less focused on how pearls are made and the various types of pearls. I know the types. Historically, Kobe did not culture pearls in Kobe itself, but rather had a history of trading pearls. We also introduce its history. By the way, I was only able to go on Saturdays and Sundays because it was closed at the end of March 2023, so I was finally able to go there. Personally, I think the Japan Pearl Museum building is a very nice piece of architecture, but as a museum, I felt it was just a free exhibition corner. In addition, the Japan Pearl Museum offers guided tours, which seem to be highly satisfying for architecture enthusiasts.

  • 5/5 Ilya M. 5 years ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Lovely little place with a store that has a lot of neat jewellery at affordable prices. Stuff speaks good English.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 よしこ 11 months ago on Google • 242 reviews
    You can clearly understand the history of Japanese pearls❗️

  • 4/5 Tanvi C. 4 years ago on Google • 229 reviews
    Small, not too scientific, but free

  • 3/5 吉野桜 1 year ago on Google • 187 reviews
    This is a small museum that tells the history of pearl farming around the world and in Japan (Kobe). It occupies a section of an old building that was built about 70 years ago, and admission is free. I went because it was closing in March 2023, but it was extremely empty. Although the content is geeky, such as how pearls are cultured and sorted, it was quite interesting to learn about a side of history. At one time, Kobe was responsible for 80% of Japan's pearl trade. If you would like to know more about the port city of Kobe in the past, please come here. I don't know if they're doing this now, but apparently there was a service where if you donated around 1,000 yen to a pearl culture, you could receive a small pearl that couldn't be used as jewelry. It looks like the building will be demolished after it closes, so if you're interested, you should get there as soon as possible.


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