| Number: | 1039 |
| Title: | Train Tracks near Kobe Station (1): Looking East from Aioi Bridge (Kobe) |
| Photographer: | |
| Area: | Kobe |
| Year of performance: | |
| Album: | |
| Color: | color |
| Size: | 211x281 |
| Comment: |
| Railroad service started between Kobe and Osaka in 1874 and was extended to Kyoto in 1877. By 1889, the Tokaido Railroad Line between Tokyo (Shinbashi) and Kobe reached completion, connecting the major political and commercial centres of Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. This photo is the northeastern view from the foot of Aioi Bridge, a railroad overpass. The buildings in the centre, on the north side of the railroad, form Zenpukuji, a temple of the Jodo Sect Honganji Branch of Buddhism that is currently known as "Modan Dera" (modern temple), presently located in Shimo-Yamate-Dori 8-chome. Right beyond the railroad, the Uji River flows in front of the temple from right to left (more or less south to north). Both foreigners and Japanese lived in the area beyond the river. The railroad proceeds east to Sannomiya Station (present-day JR Motomachi Station) and continues on to Osaka. Unlike photo catalogue No. 4602 (Ref.#90-44), electric poles are visible on the north side of the train tracks, and hence this photo was presumably taken in the mid-Meiji Period. Some new train signs are posted. The houses on the right around the Motomachi-Dori 6-chome area are of interest. |