I love Kobe!
So glad I went here. If I lived in Japan, it would be a strong contender. Near the sea (Osaka Bay) and mountains (Rokko mountain), Osaka is a short drive away and the city itself is not as touristy as the others and is more ‘authentic’.
I had my best spa experience here. I watched the Japan-Scotland rugby match in a jacuzzi drinking beers with locals.
Other things I did in Kobe:
– Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum: very informative museum close to the seafront of Kobe.
The Kōbe earthquake of 1995, also called Great Hanshin earthquake, was among the strongest, deadliest, and costliest to ever strike that country.
The earthquake hit at 5:46 AM on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1995,
It lasted about 20 seconds and registered as a magnitude 6.9 (7.3 on the Richter scale). Its epicentre was the northern part of Awaji Island in the Inland Sea, 20 km off the coast of the port city of Kōbe; the quake’s focus was about 16 km below the earth’s surface.
The Hanshin region is Japan’s second largest urban area, with more than 11 million inhabitants; with the earthquake’s epicenter located as close as it was to such a densely populated area, the effects were overwhelming.
Its estimated death toll of 6,400 made it the worst earthquake to hit Japan since the Tokyo-Yokohama (Great Kantō) earthquake of 1923, which had killed more than 140,000.
Kōbe was the hardest hit city with 4,571 fatalities, more than 14,000 injured, and more than 120,000 damaged structures, more than half of which were fully collapsed.
The earthquake was notable for exposing the vulnerability of the infrastructure. Authorities who had proclaimed the superior earthquake-resistance capabilities of Japanese construction were quickly proved wrong by the collapse of numerous supposedly earthquake-resistant buildings, rail lines, elevated highways, and port facilities. Although most of the buildings that had been constructed according to new building codes withstood the earthquake, many others, particularly older wood-frame houses, did not. The government was heavily criticized for its slow and ineffectual response, as well as its initial refusal to accept help from foreign countries.
– 姫路城 (Himeji Castle) One of the most beautiful castles on Japan.
The nearby zoo was nice too with lots of exotic wild animals.
Dating to 1609 and also graced with the name “White Egret Castle” (白鷺城 Shirasagi-jō), this striking white edifice is one of the few that has escaped the ravages of civil war, World War II, earthquakes and firebombings.
The castle was designated as a national treasure in 1931 and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
Although renovated, much of the castle looks as it did when it was first built, and in contrast to European castles, is very empty, consistent with the Japanese minimalist style of the time.
– I experienced typhoon Hagibis while I was in Kobe. The gust winds were so strong, I will never forget their intensity.
– Kobe sauna and spa: I had my most incredible spa experience ever at the Kobe sauna & spa. The weather has been bad the whole day due to the typhoon, I wanted to visit a sake brewery in the morning but it was closed. Around 1700, I decided to venture outside as the rain had stopped and I stumbled upon this spa.
It was insane. 1700¥ for 1h but so worth it. There is a salt sauna, Turkish sauna, normal sauna, outdoors natural hot springs, indoor jacuzzi, massages as extra, etc…
– Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
Did a very cool 15min ferry ride from Kobe to Akashi island.
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is, with a length of almost four kilometers, the world’s longest suspension bridge!
Opened in 1998, it spans the Akashi Strait (Akashi Kaikyo) between Kobe and Awaji Island
– 野島断層 When the earthquake occured, the real fault appeared on the ground surface in Awaji city. Two parts of the ground slipped about 1-2 meters each other, & one part raised 0.5-1.2 meters.
This museum was built on a part of the fault (140m long)!
– Awaji island, Hyōgo I tried the signature dish of Awaji island. It’s called Akashi-yaki and it’s soft dough balls containing diced delicious Akashi-dako octopus served with a bowl of dipping soup. Tasty!
– Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd.
Kobe’s Nada (灘) district is Japan’s top sake producing region. It has long been famous for its sake due to the availability of high quality rice, suitable water and favorable weather conditions in the area.
– Rokko Mountain via the Cable Line
Considered one of “Japan’s Big Three Night Views” alongside those in Hakodate and Nagasaki, the night view from Mount Rokko was the first to be called the “The Million Dollar Night View.”
This name was given after World War II when the number of lights in Kobe visible from Mount Rokko numbered around 4,960,000, and the monthly cost to keep them lit was roughly equivalent to one million dollars at the time the rate was calculated.
AloJapan.com