Housed in a former bank (1935) with a neo-Classical appearance, the theme of the Kobe City Museum is cultural exchange between Asia and the West. Particularly noteworthy is the rare series of pieces of Nanban art (16C and 17C). These works on screens or scrolls are inspired by the European art of the Renaissance, which was introduced by missionaries. Because they are so fragile, the collection can only be seen from late July to early September. The rest of the year, visitors have to make do with facsimiles and rooms dedicated to archaeology and the history of Kobe.