This is a 300 year old section of a houseboat (boathouse). It is trimmed in gold leafing. This was at the Sorakuen garden in Sanomiya (downtown), Kobe. The garden was built by the mayor of Kobe in the 19th century to be his primary residence. It spanned a couple of acres and included several houses, a lake with 80 year old coi fish, a palm garden, and beautifully pruned old trees. Quite the estate to be located downtown