A couple of weekends ago, I struck a course and set out for Kobe. My sensei back in Australia who taught me Japanese hailed from Kobe so I had been curious for years about this "modern city" she described to me. As it turns out, Kobe is a modern city largely due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 which destroyed much of the city and forced the citizens to rebuild their home anew with modern, earthquake-resistant structures. Kobe does not hold much excitement for the average foreign tourist in Japan but I was itching to try that famous Kobe Beef and I managed to make a memorable time of my visit. Check out some of my favourite snaps below!
Hopping on the shink', on the way to Shin-Kobe Station...
Kobe Harborland is ready for Christmas!
The Kobe Port area including Kobe Tower, the Maritime Museum and a Christmas Tree...
This is a memorial to the victims of the Hanshin Earthquake. The port area suffered some of the worst damage as you can see from the lamp posts pointing in different directions. The force of the earthquake was so strong, it warped the guard railing.
Kobe Chinatown...
Found Bruce Lee in an alleyway...
Autumn leaves...
The chef prepares my Kobe Beef right infront of me!
Kobe Beef cooked to perfection and served for dinner...
Enjoying the autumn leaves with my view over Kobe...
Caught some ninjas having a break and a smoke...
More autumn leaves...
I'll give a theoretical cookie to anyone who can guess where this picture was taken...
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Kobe is one of my favourite cities in Japan and I could quite easily live there. I love the cosmopolitan vibe and large ex-pat community that have built their home there. Most of the major sights can been seen in 1-2 days and are reachable on foot from the main train stations.
ReplyDeleteKobe is not the most spectacular city in Japan admittedly so many tourists pass it over but I agree it would make a great city to settle down in. Very relaxed vibe. :)
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