Walking tour around Kobe harbour and Mosaic Shopping Mall

A walking tour around Kobe harbour and a visit to Mosaic shopping mall around the waterfront at night.

The walk includes scenes of Kobe Port Tower, the Maritime Museum, the Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, shops and restaurants within Mosaic and views of the harbour in twilight.

Kobe has many other attractions (some of which I have visited) including Atoa Aquarium, Mount Rokko, Nunobiki Herb Gardens and ropeway, Nunobiki Waterfalls, a Chinatown among other attractions that can make up an entire day. There was even a hedgehog tea room that included small pigs when I visited! Definitely a place worth visiting on your trip to Japan.

Konichiwa (Hello) Right now I am in Kobe harbour. Kobe has ferry ports taking you to other parts of Japan that include Miyazaki and Kitakyushu. During my visit I stayed at the Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. This view is just outside the hotel and where I will start my walk. This is Kobe Maritime Museum. Here you can experience the history of ships and ports in Kobe. Up in front is Kobe Port Tower. The tower features a revolving bar/cafe, shops, exhibitions and panoramic views of Kobe harbour. Kobe is a great alternative to Tokyo or Osaka if you wish to experience calmer parts of Japan. During my visit I found it had a relaxed and chilled atmosphere, particularly at night. Some of these ports I am passing now can take you on short cruises. You can enjoy panoramic views of Kobe’s cityscape including views of Mount Rokko and Awaji Island. I am now making my way to Mosaic. This is an outdoor shopping mall with restaurants overlooking the harbour. Mosaic also has a bridge that connects to Umie shopping mall. Personally I preferred Mosaic of the two. I particularly liked Mosaic due to it overlooking the harbour and for it’s quieter, less busy shopping. Most of the shops sold souvenirs and snacks. There were even shops I had not seen before! It was here I bought some apple sandwich cookies. Unfortunately they didn’t last long. I ate them in one sitting… I couldn’t resist. I just love how quiet and chilled it is here. With a lot of malls you don’t usually get this experience. Lots of variety and plenty of unique gifts. Just up ahead is the ferris wheel. I imagine you can get fantastic views from up there. There are many restaurants and bars within the area, including a buffet. Many offer views overlooking the harbour. That hotel on the right is the Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. If you decide to come to Kobe, I would certainly recommend staying there. They have great views from the rooms and serve an amazing buffet breakfast. There were so many options. The lights around the mall make it feel like it’s Christmas. It is actually February (at time of recording). There are lots of hidden back alleys to explore. If you visit, make sure you check the mall’s map. It would be a shame to miss them. This is the main shopping street at the mall. Looks quiet. Down here there are more restaurants. That’s the bridge that connects to Umie mall. This mall is undercover and much larger than Mosaic. Good to keep in mind if it is raining. There are many other things to do in Kobe… One place I visited was Atoa Aquarium. It’s very unique and I highly recommend it. I’ve also been to Nunobiki Herb Gardens via the ropeway and a hedgehog tea room with mini pigs! That about sums it up. Thanks for watching.