Holiday Destination: Kobe

Kobe is the fifth largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyogo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately 30 km west of Osaka. The earliest written records regarding the region come from the Nihon Shoki, which describes the founding of the Ikuta Shrine by Empress Jingū in AD 201. For most of its history the area was never a single political entity, even during the Tokugawa Period, when the port was controlled directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Kobe did not exist in its current form until its founding in 1889. Its name comes from "kanbe", an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine. Kobe became one of Japan's 17 designated cities in 1956. Kobe was one of the cities to open for trade with the West following the end of the policy of seclusion and has since been known as a cosmopolitan port city. While the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake diminished much of Kobe's prominence as a port city, it remains Japan's fourth busiest container port. The city is the point of origin and namesake of Kobe beef as well as the site of one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, Arima Onsen.

Climate

Summer 29 °C (81 °F), Winter (-1) °C (26.4 °F)

Tourist Season

October through April is the best for visiting Kobe.

Accommodation

Hotels and Apartments.

General Information Of Kobe

• Land Area: 213.23 sq mi (552.26 km2)
• Population: 15 Lakh.
• Capital City: Hyogo.
• Language: English and Japanies.

Tourist Attraction in or Near by Kobe

Meriken Park

Meriken Park is a waterfront park located in the port city of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Meriken Park is a nice park created on reclaimed land near the Kobe port. The park features the Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, and a memorial to victims of the Great Hanshin earthquake. The name of the park comes from the word "American," which was commonly translated as "Meriken" during the Meiji era. Meriken Park is also the location of the Hotel Okura Kobe and Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel.

Mount Rokko

Mount Rokko is a name of a group of mountains in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of Hyogo 50 mountains, Kinki 100 mountains, and also one of the 300 famous mountains in Japan. The highest peak in Rokko Mountains. The mountains spread from Sumaura Koen Park in the west end of Kobe, to Takarazuka, and the length of the mountains ranges is about 56 km. The highest point is 931m. It includes Mount Maya, Mount Kabutoyama, Mount Iwahara and Mount Iwakura.

Kobe Chinatown

Kobe Chinatown in Kobe, Japan is one of only three designated Chinatowns in Japan. It is located south of Motomachi station adjacent to the Daimaru Department Store and is a major tourist attraction. The area has over a hundred Chinese restaurants, shops, and a Chinese temple. Unlike its counterparts in Yokohama and Nagasaki, Kobe's Nankinmachi sets itself apart as being the most colorful and foreign looking Chinatown in all of Japan.

Kobe Luminarie

Kobe Luminarie is a light festival held in Kobe, Japan, every December since 1995 and commemorating the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year. The lights were donated by the Italian Government and the installation itself is produced by Valerio Festi and Hirokazu Imaoka. Lights are kept up for about two weeks and turned on for a few hours each evening. Each light is individually hand painted. Major streets in the vicinity are closed to auto traffic during these hours to allow pedestrians to fill the streets and enjoy the lights. It is viewed by about three to five million people each year.

Mount Maya

Mount Maya is a 698.6 mt high mountain in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of the major peaks of the Rokko Mountains, and is the most popular peak for visitors on the West Rokko Mountains. Mount Maya area was linked to Kinenhidai area and the top of Mount Rokko by bus. This mountain is a part of Setonaikai National Park, and famous for the view from the mountain. Especially from Kikuseidai, a park just aside of the top of the mountain, visitor can see all over Osaka Bay area including, Kobe, Nishinomiya, Amagasaki, Osaka, Sakai, and two major airports in this area, Kansai International Airport and Kobe Airport.

Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen is an onsen, or hot springs in Kita-ku, Kobe, Japan. This Onsen is still a hidden treasure of modern Kobe, behind Mount Rokko. It attracts many Japanese who want tranquility with beautiful natural surroundings and yet easy access from the busy cities in the Kansai metropolitan area including Osaka. Arima Onsen is the one of Japan's oldest, with Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture. Many documents since the 8th century AD mention this onsen.

Kobe Harborland

Harborland is a shopping district in Chuo ku, Kobe, Japan. Kobe Port Tower is located there. This shopping district was made on the site of the former freight yard, Minatogawa Kamotsu Station of the Japanese National Railways. The yard was removed in 1982 and the shopping district opened in 1992. The waterfront of the Kobe Harborland boasts of magnificent beauty and is a place where the localites as well as the tourists can relax and spend some quality time with their loved ones. This harbor land features a wide range of restaurants, an amusement park, cinemas and a good range of ships which you can see arriving and departing from the Kobe Harborland.

Kobe Port Tower

Kobe Port Tower is a 108 m high lattice tower in the port city of Kobe, Japan. Kobe Port Tower has an observation deck at a height of 90.28 metres. The red steel Port Tower offers a spectacular sight of the bay area and the surrounding area. The construction of the Kobe Port Tower was completed in 1963 and it looks like the Sydney Tower. The unusual design with scaffolding cover at the top is liked by tourists all over the world. The massive tower decorated with lights all over presents a unique sight at night. However in the month of February when the place experiences its winters, the closing time is narrowed to 6 in the evening. The Port Tower is open all days of the week and all days of the year.

Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park

Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture has been a favorite tourist haunt for long. Kobe, one of the ten largest cities of Japan is regarded as one of the most attractive cities of Japan owing to its beautiful location between the Rokko Mountain range and the deep blue sea. The city of Kobe has also been an important port city for many years. One of the most cosmopolitan cities of Japan, the city of Kobe houses the Kobe Port which was the first Japanese port which allowed foreign trade during the late Edo Period. The Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park is one of the most popular Kobe tourist attractions. While in the city try visiting the Kobe port Earthquake memorial Park as it will make you think about the devastative effects of earthquakes and how one should prevent it from occurring.

Kob Maritime Museum

The Kobe Maritime Museum offers a good opportunity for all to learn. Your kids can gather some knowledge about the actions that go on in the harbors and the equipments used in harbor activities. The Kobe Maritime Museum, one of the most frequently visited Kobe tourist attractions provides a good information on the history of the harbor of Kobe, the port, the sea and all other things that are connected to ocean. The building of the Kobe Maritime Museum in Kobe shaped like that of a sail-boat is not only interesting to look at but also houses many things that enlighten everyone. The whole area with the Kobe Maritime Museum as well as the Kobe Tower looks very beautiful at night when all the lights are on and glittering.

Naka Pier Central Passenger Terminal

The Naka Pier Central Passenger Terminal, Kobe is a very important means of communication in the city of Kobe. The capital of the Hyogo Prefecture and one of the ten largest cities of Japan the city of Kobe is nestled amidst the Rokko mountain rage and the blue waters of the sea. Owing to the idyllic location many tourists from all over the world visit the city and go for a tour of the Kobe tourist attractions. The busy Naka Pier Central Passenger Terminal in Kobe not only serves as an important means of communication but is itself one of the important tourist attractions in Kobe. The Central Passenger Terminal of Kobe is strategically located on the western section of the Naka Pier and is busy through out the day.

Accessibility

Bus Terminal in or Near by

The B Kobe

Kobe City Chuo Shimoyamate the pass 2-chome, 11-5
Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

The four the Strait-su (strains) Head Office

３-１−６ Kaigandori,
KobeChuo Ward,
Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Kansai International Airport Shuttle reservation center bay

１０ Kobekuko,
KobeChuo Ward,
Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Airport

Kobe Airport: For International and Domestic flights.

Railway Stations

Sannomiya Station

Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Umeda Station

1-2 Shibata, Kita-ku,
Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan

Nishidai Station‎

２-６ Oyashikidori,
Nagata-ku, Kobe-shi,
Hyogo-ken, Japan

Kosokunagata Station‎

２ Kitamachi,
Nagata-ku, Kobe-shi,
Hyogo-ken, Japan

Hyogo Station‎

５-３ Ekiminamidori,
Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi,
Hyogo-ken, Japan