World to Sell Kobe Head Office Building on Port Island, with Leaseback Planned
World Co., Ltd., an apparel company headquartered in Kobe, announced on January 7, 2026, that it will sell its head office building (land and building) located in Minatojima-Nakamachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe. The property is scheduled to be delivered by the end of February.
The asset is a 27-story office tower with one basement level, featuring a site area of approximately 2,509 tsubo (approx. 89,300 sq. ft.) and a gross floor area of approximately 10,541 tsubo (approx. 375,000 sq. ft.). It is located about a three-minute walk from Shimin-Hiroba Station on the Port Liner automated transit line.
In its upcoming medium-term management plan, World has set out the full-scale adoption of ROIC-based management, and the sale is intended to improve capital efficiency through asset compression. Following the sale, the company will continue to occupy the existing headquarters under a two-year leaseback arrangement, after which it plans to relocate to another site within Kobe. World will maintain its headquarters functions in the city and continue its commitment to contributing to its place of origin.
Port Island has recently seen a series of corporate headquarters relocations. ASICS, for example, plans to move its headquarters to the Sannomiya area in January 2028, citing talent acquisition and improved accessibility. Meanwhile, the City of Kobe is promoting the “Port Island Reborn Project,” aiming to revitalize the island in anticipation of the launch of international flights at Kobe Airport in 2025 and the opening of the western extension of the Osaka Bay Coastal Road. In addition, the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster is advancing a shift toward medical and life sciences industries, including the development of a research and development facility tentatively named “iPark Kobe” by Mitsubishi Corporation and others.
Key Facts
Property Name: World Head Office Building
Seller: World Co., Ltd.
Buyer: Undisclosed (domestic company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market)
Transaction Price: Not disclosed
Location: 6-8-1 Minatojima-Nakamachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Nearest Station: Shimin-Hiroba Station (Port Liner), approx. 3-minute walk
Completion: February 1984
Number of Floors: 27F / B1
Site Area: Approx. 2,509 tsubo (approx. 89,300 sq. ft.)
Gross Floor Area: Approx. 10,541 tsubo (approx. 375,000 sq. ft.)