Shinkaichi

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Shinkaichi (新開地, Shinkaichi^?) is a district of Kobe, Japan. It is one of the major downtown areas in the city.

The name of Shinkaichi means 'newly opened area'. It was named so because the district was really newly developed area after moving the Minato-gawa River from this area to the west end of the city in the early 20th Century. Before World War II and the air raid to Kobe by the allied forces in 1945, this district was the biggest downtown in Kobe.

From the 1920s to 1940s, this district was also famous as a 'town of theaters'. However, after such theaters lost popularity in Japan during the 1960s, this district rapidly lost its status.

[edit] Transportation

Shinkaichi Station of Kobe Rapid Transit Railway is in Shinkaichi. It is the terminal of the trains of Kobe Electric Railway and is also served by Hankyu, Hanshin and Sanyo trains.