Kobe (神戸, Kōbe) is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of
Japan's ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain
range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities.
Kobe
has been an important port city for many centuries. Its port was among the first
to be opened to foreign trade in the 19th century alongside the ports of
Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata.
How to Get There
Kobe is
directly connected with Tokyo via the JR Tokaido/Sanyo
Shinkansen line.
The journey between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe
Station takes between 160 and 195 minutes depending on the train
and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass if taking a Hikari train.
There are also multiple ANA and Skymark Airlines flights between
Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kobe Airport. The cheapest way to get
to Kobe is by overnight bus. There are a number of companies
that offer the eight to nine-hour journey from Tokyo to the
wider Osaka area, with prices varying from around 5,000 to 8,500
yen each way.
Home of the famous beef
If there's one dish that represents the city, it has to be Kobe
beef. Coming from locally bred and raised Tajima cattle, this
marbled, tender, and flavor-rich beef is internationally
recognized and revered.
Though there are a number of
theories as to how the area produces such great beef, such as
the cattle are massaged and given beer, this isn't actually the
case. Instead, Kobe beef must meet a strict set of standards to
ensure only the highest grade of beef is given the Kobe stamp of
approval.
The most common way to enjoy Kobe beef here in
the city is, of course, the classic steak. You can also try
shabu shabu, where thin slices of meat are quickly dipped in
boiling broth, or try sukiyaki, which is a hotpot style of
cooking.
Checking out the night sights
Kobe's central location between the mountains and the sea offers
you an eclectic collection of sightseeing and day trip
opportunities.
If you are interested in getting a
different perspective on the city, you can scale Kobe Port Tower
, a 108-meter-high observation tower located on the city's
waterfront between the Kobe Harborland entertainment and
shopping district and Meriken Park . You can also take in what
many consider Japan's best nighttime view by swinging up the
Kobe-Nunobiki Ropeway , which scales the side of the Rokko
mountain chain, to a breathtaking panorama of the city lights at
night.
For a completely different view of the city,
there's also lunch and dinner cruises that launch from
Nakatottei Chuo Terminal on the bay.
Scenic walks
and seaside parks
Kobe also boasts a number of
impressive parks and waterfront hotspots. Check out the famous
Sorakuen Garden , a traditional Japanese landscape garden in the
middle of the city, or consider a 40-minute hike from Shin-Kobe
Station up to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden, passing Nunobiki
Falls along the way.
Chinatown
Kobe
is home to Nankinmachi , one of Japan's three main Chinatown
districts, which offers plenty of street food and bubble tea. It
is about a 5-minute walk from JR Motomachi Station.