“America Hatoba (Pier)”, Kobe, c. 1910.

“Almost all steamers in the trans-Pacific service, or on the line via Suéz, call at this harbor [Kobe].

“As they anchor in the harbour, steam-launches are available for the conveyance of passengers from boat to shore. When taking a sampan, a charge of about 15 sen per head is made.

“Hotel launches meet all arriving steamers, and guides attend to the passage of luggage through the customs.

“The Ticket & Inquiry Office of the Japan Tourist Bureau is in the Kaigan-dori (the Bund) near the America Hatoba, where travellers may be sure of obtaining reliable information about inland trips.

“The Tor Hotel is situated in Yamate-dori, the Oriental Hotel in Kaigan-dori, and the Mikado Hotel in Shita-machi (downtown).”

– The Tourist’s Guide to Japan, Japan Tourist Bureau, 1916

American Hatoba, Kobe, c. 1910.

“… Among other improvements effected in Kobe Harbor during last year were the extension of the American hatoba, or landing place, for passengers, and the increase of accommodation at the Kawasaki dockyards in preparation for building a warship of 27,000 tons for the Japanese Navy, the yards previously having been capable of building ships of only 8,000 or 9,000 tons.

“A total of 2,502 vessels entered at Kobe in 1911, the tonnage being 5,778,300. In the year before the figures were 2,448 vessels with a tonnage of 5,663,693. Of the 1911 entries, 1,608 were Japanese, 540 British, 144 Germa,n and 53 steamers of 389,366 tons [were] American.”

‘Contemplated improvement at Kobe’, Railway and Marine News, October 1, 1912