Baison Gallery バイソン-梅村

An artist-run gallery and shared creative hub in Kobe’s Umemura (Baison).

Community Eco-critical

Instagram Baison construction

Baison Gallery (バイソン-梅村) in Umemotocho, Hyogo Ward, Kobe, is part of “Umemura (Baison),” a boundary-blurring, evolving village compound created through the reuse of abandoned houses. The gallery sits within a seamless mixed-use environment that includes ateliers, coworking spaces, shared housing, a tea room, shops, residences, and many communal spaces. There is no dedicated website for the gallery, so the best way to check for upcoming events is through the Baison Instagram account.

The gallery emerged through the restoration of a former kominka that had fallen into severe disrepair, the roof was gone, the structure was decaying, and the house was returning to nature. Over roughly six months, the building was dismantled, repaired, reroofed, and structurally renewed, with columns replaced one by one as part of a collective building process led by the Haiōku / Nishimuragumi network.

Today, Baison Gallery and its shared kitchen are used as communal spaces within Umemura (Baison), with the outdoor kitchen and gallery available for local shared use. Baison Gallery is a great spot for anyone interested in artist-run spaces, alternative architecture, social practice, and local creative infrastructure in Kobe. It offers a chance to experience a space where exhibition-making, daily life, building culture, and community use overlap.

You can see a fascinating chronicle of the Baison building process here.

Quick info

Type: Artist-run gallery / Community-use exhibition space / Part of a mixed-use creative village
Address: Around 16-38 Umemotocho, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan (神戸市兵庫区梅元町16-38あたり)
Hours: Varies by exhibition / event / community use (check official announcements or contact directly before visiting)
Closed: No fixed public schedule; access may depend on programming, shared-use activities, and on-site availability
Phone: +81 (0)80-5338-8109
Cost: Varies by exhibition / event (many visits may be free, but confirm in advance)

What you’ll find

A process-led, artist-run gallery environment embedded in a larger community compound rather than separated from everyday life.
Shared-use spaces and local creative infrastructure including a communal kitchen and other overlapping functions across the Umemura (Baison) site.
A DIY restoration / reuse atmosphere shaped by the adaptive renovation of former abandoned houses and ongoing collective use.
A strong stop for visitors interested in alternative urbanism, social practice, artist communities, and Kobe’s independent cultural scene.

Getting there

Baison Gallery is in Kobe’s Hyogo Ward (Umemotocho), within the Umemura (Baison) area. Because this is part of a mixed-use, community-based site rather than a conventional standalone venue, it’s best to confirm the exact access point before visiting. Use the address “神戸市兵庫区梅元町16-38” (or “バイソン梅村 / Baison Gallery”) in your maps app, and check current event or exhibition information in advance. Also, since this is also a residential and working space, please treat the location with care and respect.

^{ENLARGE MAP >}

Good to know

Check before you go—Baison Gallery may operate according to exhibitions, events, and shared community use rather than fixed daily opening hours.
Think of it as a place-in-process: part gallery, part communal infrastructure, and part ongoing experiment in reuse and collective living.
Be respectful of residents and shared spaces—this is a lived environment as well as a cultural site.
Great for architecture / art / community design enthusiasts interested in adaptive reuse, artist-led spaces, and local creative ecosystems in Kobe.