KOBE GUIDE: Japan Trips recommended by locals, nankinmachi, Kobe Monument, local food
Today’s tour takes us to Kobe, Japan’s iconic port city. It’s especially famous among international tourists for Kobe beef! It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes by train from Kansai Airport to Motomachi Station in Kobe. Right in front of us stands the striking red Kobe Port Tower. With the blue sky and sea as its backdrop, it’s the perfect photo spot. Let’s explore this wonderful area and enjoy a food tour through Nankinmachi’s delicious eats! Check the video description for more details about the trip, and don’t forget to subscribe and hit the like button! The words ‘Time Capsule’ and the year are inscribed on it. In the southeast of Meriken Park, a time capsule was placed at a depth of 7 meters on the seabed. It was opened in 2017, and now a new time capsule is buried on the seabed. Around the park, you can see clusters of buildings, giving the impression of a thriving city. However, this city was struck by a major disaster in 1995 due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake caused buildings to collapse, lifelines to shut down, and over 100,000 homes to be completely destroyed. In just 30 years since the disaster, this city has transformed into such a beautiful place. Next up is Nankinmachi, Kobe’s liveliest gourmet spot, just a 10-minute walk from this park. One of Japan’s top three Chinatowns, alongside Yokohama and Nagasaki, it’s perfect for a food tour. Even the vending machines have a Chinese style. The streets are lined with Chinese food stalls and restaurants, filled with mouthwatering aromas. First up, we’re heading to YUNYUN, a popular spot with lines forming for their grilled xiaolongbao! When you take a bite, the piping-hot soup bursts out, so start by nibbling just a bit of the dumpling’s skin. Even with just a small bite, you can taste how the rich, flavorful soup has soaked into the skin—absolutely delicious! The soup, bursting with umami, spills out. Wrapped in leaves are Chinese zongzi (粽, Dzongz), a traditional dish made by wrapping glutinous or regular rice in bamboo or reed leaves and then steaming or boiling it. For dessert, I’ll have the hedgehog-on-a-ball sweets that I’ve been curious about for a while. The outside is crispy, and inside, there’s a mildly sweet cream. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like a mildly sweet fried bread. It’s fluffy and warm. The sesame dumpling is covered with plenty of sesame seeds on the outside, chewy on the inside, and filled with red bean paste. In Nankinmachi, the rule is to eat purchased food in designated eat-in spaces or areas specified by the shops, but you can also eat in the center of the plaza. In the central plaza, there are 13 animal stone statues installed as bollards to prevent cars from entering the plaza. The twelve animals represent the Chinese zodiac, called the “jūnishi,” which were used in ancient China as symbols for astronomy and calendars.（The other one is a panda.） The popular shop with long lines, Roujoki. The pork buns from the long-established Roujoki are manju crafted to be more palatable for Japanese tastes. They feature a unique dough texture, fermented with “koji” instead of yeast. “There are also several Kobe beef restaurants. Japanese culture loves cute and charming things, so adorable-looking food always sparks excitement. Chinese cuisine is familiar to Japanese people, but this town has plenty of dishes I haven’t tried yet. “This restaurant is famous for its Peking duck. They’re preparing Peking duck right now. I’m already full, but next time I come, I want to try the whole shark fin dish. What Chinese dish would you like to eat? Hyogo Prefecture is known for its high-quality octopus, so there are octopus stuffed toys. Leaving Nankinmachi, I stroll through the shopping streets around the station. Oh, I forgot to stop by the choux cream shop in Kobe. Sweets are a separate stomach! I bought the popular panda choux cream. The whipped cream is shaped like a panda, with pink or blue cheeks. The choux cream has a cozy, homely warmth and a mild sweetness. There’s so much cream that it’s hard to eat as is, so I decided to scoop the cream with the choux puff skin. It’s fun! Kobe is home to many shoemakers and shoe factories, so there are plenty of shoe stores. As an exotic port city, it’s also a town with a sophisticated fashion culture. Japan is warmer than usual this year, but the delicious autumn season for sweet potato sweets has arrived. This Uniqlo also sells bouquets. Roses, pampas grass, celosia, and other autumn flowers are on display. I thought I saw a familiar face at the sports store, but it was a life-sized Ichiro doll. Back at the hotel, we’ll eat the dinner we bought in Nankinmachi. I hope lots of good things happen to you today. See you again!
Experience Kobe’s charm in a one-day travel and tour vlog!
Kick off at Meriken Park, soaking in the sea breeze with views of the Kobe Port Tower and BE KOBE monument.
Then, walk north to Nankinmachi, one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns. Pass through vibrant red and gold gates, savor street food like xiaolongbao and pork buns.
Access: About 10 minutes walk from JR Motomachi Station to Meriken Park, then 5 more to Nankinmachi. Super convenient by public transport!
Great for planning your Kobe adventure.
🔴Meriken Park
2 Hatobacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0042
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/1KYqGo43cnXh5ZvV6
🍖Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi
1 Chome-3-18 Sakaemachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0023
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/292F54KJhx41QmyY8
🔗https://www.nankinmachi.or.jp（Japanese language only）
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