Seido Junior High School
This is the junior high school where Haruki Murakami graduated. It is a common public junior high school in Japan, located in a residential area. However, it is an indispensable spot to learn about his background. In his essay, "How Murakami Asahidou Was Trained," he talks about his memories of that time.
Uchide Park
This park is famous for appearing as "the park with the monkey cage" in Haruki Murakami's debut novel "Hear the Wind Sing". The monkey that appeared in the book has since passed away, but the cage remains today.
Former Ashiya Municipal Public Library
This library is the model for the "Old Library" that appeared in his debut novel, "Hear the Wind Sing". It is associated with Haruki Murakami, who used it at one point in his life; it is a valuable Western-style modern building built in 1930 and designated as an important cultural property.
Kobe High School
This is the home school of Haruki Murakami and is one of the top schools in Hyogo Pref. The school frequently appears in his novels, and is especially famous as a location for the movie "Norwegian Wood," making it a must-see for fans. The main building of the school has existed since the 1930s, so you can enjoy the same view that Haruki Murakami saw.
Kobe Asahi Building
This building has something to do with Haruki Murakami's high school days. He used to go to Sannomiya after school to look for jazz records and watch movies. There is a movie theater in the building, and it was introduced as one of his memorable places in an interview when "Hear the Wind Sing" was made.
Kobe Foreign Settlement
This area is a place where you can feel the history of Kobe's development through trade and the influx of foreign culture. The building in this area is often used for wedding photos and fashion magazine shoots because of its massive and gorgeous architecture. When "Hear the Wind Sing" was made into a movie, it appeared in a scene where a woman was given a ride to her part-time job.
Tor Road Delicatessen
This is a long-established delicatessen in Kobe. Haruki Murakami has been coming here since he was in high school and says he has never encountered anything better than the sandwiches here. You can buy sandwiches and other prepared foods at the store, and there is also a coffee shop.
Pinocchio
This is an Italian restaurant associated with Haruki Murakami. When you order a pizza, you will receive a note indicating how many pizzas it has baked so far, which is a unique experience. In his essay, "Frontier, Near Frontier," he mentions how he was surprised by the note. It is also a place where fans gather every year on the day of the announcement in October, hoping that Haruki Murakami will win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
