My first glimpse of Kobe came to me as I was approaching the city, at breakneck speed, in the storied Shinkansen — Japanese bullet train. From a distance, the city of Kobe looks magnificent — the vast expanse of the Osaka bay and glitzy skyline, framed by the Rokko mountains in the distance. Kobe, as I discovered, is a traveller’s delight, famous for many things, its legendary Kobe beef being one of them. Listed among the most visually appealing cities in Japan, Kobe has a strong historical background as a port city, and its port is still one of Japan’s most important. In fact, the mercantile history of Japan, Kobe, along with other ports like Yokohama and Nagasaki, has been a crossroads of international trade.
Today, as I walk down the buzzing streets of Kobe, I experienced its unique vibe — old and new, east meets west. Here, in the midst of modern skyscrapers, ancient temples dot the cityscape. Trendy cafes and boutiques rub shoulders with age-old neighbourhoods.
Kobe is best explored, as I did, over two or three days, where you take the time to soak in its ambience, explore different neighbourhoods and try out its world-famous food scene. After all, it is here that the iconic Kobe steak was born, and today, you can experience this culture of steak excellence in one of the many high-end steak houses in the city, where Japanese food culture is kept alive.
Kobe has much to offer to its visitors . Take, for instance, its staggering choice of museums for the culture buff. The heart of the city boats an unmistakable urban energy but to truly experience the beauty of Kobe, I had to step outside the confines of the city centre. Mt. Rokko, for instance, offers sweeping views of the Osaka bay. Catch a slice of traditional Japan by making a trip to the Arima Onsen, an extended suburb of Kobe, which is a cluster of natural hot springs. Take some time to stay in a traditional ryokan — Japanese inn — and experience the hot springs, but not before visiting the old temples that dot the town.
My two days in Kobe went by in a flurry, as the city delighted me with sights, sounds, flavours and experiences to last me a lifetime. It should be on the top of anybody’s to-do list in Japan, to experience a unique blend of old and new.
Kobe Harborland
Kobe boats a beautiful waterfront and its aptly named Harborland is a perfect place to enjoy an evening out with family. Situated right between the JR Kobe station and the port, Kobe Harborland features a cluster of restaurants, pubs, cafes and shopping malls. Don’t miss the spectacular ferris wheel and the waterfront promenade, offering great views of the Kobe skyline and the Kobe Port Tower. Spend a couple of hours at the massive shopping mall, Umie, which features a host of Japanese and international brands.
Shin-Kobe Ropeway
A great way to enjoy some panoramic views of the city of Kobe and to visit the Rokko mountain range. The Shin-Kobe ropeway originates in the vicinity of the main Shin-Kobe station and goes all the way up to a panoramic observation deck. As the ropeway climbs, you will be able to see the Nunobiki waterfalls and gardens, making the ride quite spectacular. This ride is best enjoyed at sunset when the skyline lights up and reflects on the bay. It is very popular among locals.
Mount Rokko
At 931m, Mount Rokko is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, with sweeping views of Kobe and the Osaka bay. Spend some time enjoying some coffee and Japanese pastries at the Rokko Garden Terrace, with its cafes and panoramic observation deck. You can even walk around Mount Rokko’s various attractions like gardens, the golf course, a museum and even a massive architectural installation. While Mount Rokko is connected to the city by various forms of public transport, the most recommended way to access it is through the Arima Ropeway that connects the peak of Mount Rokko with Arima Onsen.
Practical Tip:
Getting around the Arima and Mount Rokko area is easy with the special “1 Day Round Trip Day Ticket“, which includes rides on the train, bus, cable car and ropeway. The ticket also includes a ticket to the onsen (hot sprints) in Kin-no-Yo or Gin-no-Yu baths. The basic ticket (priced at Japanese Yen 2,360/INR 1,500) can be bought at most major railway stations in Kobe and covers the basics between the city and the Arima/Rokko area. The ticket also gives you discounts at different attractions and food outlets in Arima and Mount Rokko.
Arima Onsen
Considered to be an extended suburb of Kobe, Arima Onsen is a little township known for its natural hot springs. Arima Onsen is located a short 40-minute train ride away from Kobe’s main Sannomiya or Shin-Kobe stations. Alternately, you can even take the more picturesque route, which is the cablecar and ropeway via Mount Rokko. As you walk through the quaint alleys of Arima, you will notice a lot of traditional Japanese architecture. Here, you will choose which onsen or spring you can go to — some hotels/inns have attached onsens but there are public ones as well. While Arima Onsen can be enjoyed as a day trip from Kobe, we recommend staying there at one of the traditional inns, referred to as ryokan. When you’re not enjoying the therapeutic, healing powers of the springs, you can visit some of the traditional shrines and temples in the neighbourhood, indulge in some shopping at the local stores, or try out some authentic Japanese whisky, sake and beer at the neighbourhood pubs.
Sorakuen Garden
The famous gardens of Japan and their landscaped settings are a definite must-visit in every Japanese city. Kobe is no exception to the rule and the stunning Sorakuen Garden makes for some beautiful photo ops. The garden is considered to be the green lung of the city, as it is situated in downtown Kobe and offers some rest and relaxation from the urban energy. Sorakuen Garden once housed the residence of the mayor of Kobe, but it was opened to the public as a garden in 1941. As with all Japanese gardens, the area is a blend of gorgeous landscaped greenery, blended with traditional Japanese architecture of the constructions within the garden. Don’t forget to take a leisurely stroll around the manmade pond that finds itself at the very heart of the garden. In addition, stop to soak in the other attractions of this garden like bridges and waterfalls.
Sake Tour
The Nada district, in which Kobe finds itself, is considered to be the sake capital of Japan. This is because the quality of favourable weather conditions and high-quality rice available in this region. Start your day at the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, where the entire production process of sake is explained in a most comprehensive manner, with interactive displays and installations in English. Head on over to the shop for a spot of sake tasting. Alternately, you can visit a whole host of other sake museums depending on how you’d like to spend your time — Sawanotsuru Sake Museum, Kobe Shushinkan Brewery and the extremely high-end Hamafukutsuru Ginjo Brewery, famous for its highly-prized ginjo sake. Here, you will get to see the machines at work, during your visit. Earmark a couple of hours to walk around Nada, and try out different sakes as you go, making stops at different breweries.
Kobe Museums
For culture buffs and history enthusiasts, Kobe is brimming with different interesting museums, covering various different aspects of lifestyle. Head to the Kitano-cho neighbourhood, where European-style mansions have been converted into museums. Kobe also has a very interesting fashion museum — Kobe Fashion Museum — which showcases different aspects of Japanese style. There is also the Kobe Earthquake Museum dedicated to the 1995 earthquake in Kobe. To understand a bit more about the history and culture of the city, head to the Kobe City Museum, which showcases its illustrious past as a trading port. Other smaller museums include a coffee museum, a lamp museum, and a water science museum. Don’t forget to visit the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Arts if you are fond of the arts.
Kobe Bay Cruise
The Osaka Bay along which the city of Kobe is situated is extremely picturesque. One of the most enjoyable experiences in Kobe is to take a leisurely cruise in the bay. This is a great way to truly view the diverse and dramatic landscape of the city — the water, the city skyline in the foreground and the mountains in the background. There are a few companies, which offer bay cruises. Our recommendation is the the Royal Princess boat (or the Ocean Prince) which offers a 45-minute cruise in the bay. You can catch it at the Harborland pier and it will take you past the scenic attractions of Kobe. In the distance, you will also sail past the island of Kobe Airport and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
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