「真珠の街・神戸」日本真珠会館
旧居留地の東町筋に面して立つ「日本真珠会館」。世界の海水産真珠の7割、日本の真珠輸出入の8割を担う真珠の街「神戸」ならではの由緒ある建物です。
近年では国の登録有形文化財に登録されるなどし、建築的価値も再評価されています。
館内は、1階を日本真珠輸出組合の事務所、2階に真珠の品質検定所、4階が入札会場などあり、また、1階ロビーでは歴史や真珠の種類、真珠が出来るまでを分かりやすく模型や実物で紹介する展示を無料で一般公開している「パールミュージアム」があります。
“Pearl City Kobe” Japan Pearl Center
Kobe handles 70 percent of the world’s seawater pearls and exports 80 percent of exported Japanese pearls. So, the Japan Pearl Center is fittingly located along Higashimachi-suji avenue in the Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe. In recent years,the building was listed as a National Tangible Cultural Property for its architectural value. The Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association is located on the 1st floor, the pearl inspection and certification center on the 2nd floor, and the auction room on the 4th floor. The Kobe Pearl Museum also housed on the 1st floor is open to the public free. Here, visitors can learn about the history of pearl cultivation, study numerous pearl varieties, learn about how pearls are formed, and admire genuine pearls.
