Masterpieces of Japanese architecture, Kobe Maritime Museum

One of the most frequently seen photos from Kobe is the roof of the Kobe Maritime Museum: a white, steel lattice structure, beautifully standing out in the Meriken Park. The museum's architecture was designed to suggest a sailing ship (a concept somehow related to another interesting maritime museum, the Fune no Kagakukan from Odaiba, Tokyo) and the building was opened in 1987, in time for the anniversary of 120 years since the Port of Kobe was opened for foreign trade (in 1868).

The building made a great impression on me, with its delicate roof back-dropped against the clouds of a coming storm...