Higashi Yuenchi Park, also known as KOBE EAST PARK, is a municipal park in Kanocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Managed by Kobe City, it lies immediately south of Kobe City Hall and stretches along the western side of Flower Road.
Despite the word “Yuenchi,” which can mean an amusement park in Japanese, this is a public urban park rather than an amusement park. The word “Higashi,” meaning “east,” refers to its location east of Kobe’s former foreign settlement, now known as the Former Foreign Settlement district.
Redevelopment work at Higashi Yuenchi Park began in October 2021, and the renovated park reopened on April 7, 2023. Following the renewal, the English name “KOBE EAST PARK” was introduced alongside the traditional Japanese name, Higashi Yuenchi.
The redesigned park offers an inviting public space for local residents and visitors, with improved facilities and new places to gather, relax, and enjoy the city center.
The park’s history dates back to 1875, when it opened as Gaikokujin Kyoryu Yuen, or the Foreign Settlement Recreation Park. It was primarily intended for foreign residents living in Japan. The grounds originally included lawns and playing fields for sports such as cricket and football, which were enjoyed mainly by the foreign community.
These sporting activities helped lay the foundations for the spread of baseball, rugby, soccer, bowling, and other sports in Japan.
The park’s creation was also influenced by a major fire that devastated Yokohama in 1866. During the reconstruction of the Yokohama foreign settlement, the Tokugawa shogunate entered into an agreement with foreign diplomats concerning the redevelopment of the settlement, including the provision of recreational grounds shared by foreign residents and Japanese people. This idea contributed to the establishment of the Foreign Settlement Recreation Park east of Kobe’s foreign settlement.
Over the years, the park was known by several different names, including Gaikokujin Kyoryu Yuen, Naigai Jinmin Kaigaku Yuen, Naigaijin Koen, and Kanocho Yuenchi. In 1922, the name was standardized as Higashi Yuenchi, which remains in use today.
Higashi Yuenchi also holds a special place in the history of bowling in Japan. In 1869, a social club for foreign residents called the Union Club was established within the park. It was later renamed KOBE CLUB, and Japanese people were eventually permitted to enter.
The club’s grounds are associated with the first experience of bowling by Japanese participants. To commemorate this historical connection, a monument marking the birthplace of bowling in Japan was erected in 1991.
In 1870, Scottish pharmacist Alexander Cameron Sim arrived in Japan and established the Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club (KR&AC) within Higashi Yuenchi. He contributed significantly to the promotion of sports in Kobe and is also remembered for helping popularize ramune, a traditional Japanese carbonated drink, and for pioneering activities resembling modern disaster volunteer work.
A memorial monument honoring Sim’s achievements stands in the park, commemorating his contribution to Kobe’s international community and sporting culture.
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck on January 17, 1995, causing widespread devastation throughout Kobe. Higashi Yuenchi became an important place of remembrance, and numerous monuments and memorials were installed within the park.
Among them are the Monument to Mourning and Recovery, the 1.17 Hope Light, and a monument inscribed with a poem by Empress Emerita Michiko. These memorials honor those who lost their lives and preserve the memory of the disaster for future generations.
Every year, from January 16 into January 17, the park hosts the “1.17 Gathering,” a memorial event for the victims of the earthquake. More than 10,000 lanterns are arranged to form a Japanese character expressing prayers and remembrance.
At 5:46 a.m., the exact time the earthquake struck, participants observe a moment of silence in memory of those who died. The gathering provides an opportunity to reflect on the tragedy, honor the victims, and renew commitments to disaster preparedness and recovery.
Higashi Yuenchi has also served as one of the venues for Kobe Luminarie, a winter illumination event launched in the 1995 fiscal year following the earthquake. The event was created to commemorate the victims and pass the memory of the disaster on to future generations.
Although the event was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its illuminated displays have become a familiar part of Kobe’s winter landscape. During the event, a decorative light installation known as a “frontone” has been displayed on the park’s grounds.
As part of Kobe’s wider redevelopment of the central Sannomiya district, the city began renovating Higashi Yuenchi in October 2021 to improve connections between surrounding areas and encourage people to explore the city center on foot.
Changes to the construction plans extended the project, but the completed park reopened on April 7, 2023. New facilities, including URBAN PICNIC, were introduced to create lively gathering places where people can meet, relax, and enjoy outdoor activities.
Since its opening in 1875, Higashi Yuenchi has undergone repeated improvements and redevelopment. In 1973, a major renovation was carried out as part of the park’s centenary celebrations. Further redevelopment took place between 1988 and 1990 in connection with the construction of Kobe City Hall’s Building No. 1.
These changes reflect the park’s evolving role, from a recreation ground for foreign residents to a public space closely connected with Kobe’s civic life, sporting heritage, and modern urban development.
Following its latest renovation, Higashi Yuenchi continues to serve as a peaceful green retreat in the heart of Kobe. Its lawns and open spaces offer a welcome contrast to the surrounding city streets, making it a pleasant place for both residents and tourists to take a break.
The park is also an important cultural and historical destination. Its sports-related monuments, earthquake memorials, and event spaces tell stories of international exchange, community spirit, tragedy, and recovery. A visit offers not only a chance to relax outdoors but also an opportunity to discover an important part of Kobe’s history.