Tag: hyogo
Kitano Ijinkan: Kobe’s Historic Foreign Settlement
The Port of Kobe was opened on 1 January 1868, ten years after Japan’s borders opened to the rest of the world. It didn’t take long for foreigners to begin settling here between the mountains and the sea, buying and renting homes...
Beef, Jazz and History: Things to do in Kobe
Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and Japan’s third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. Sitting on Osaka Bay, backed by the Rokko mountain range, it’s known as a cosmopolitan city with ancient history and an interesting blend of cultures. From...
The Culinary Delights of Kobe Chinatown Nankinmachi
If you’re heading to Kobe, be sure to check out Kobe Chinatown Nankinmachi. This historic shopping and dining district contains around 100 shops and restaurants and spans a 270m by 110m area, making it one of the three largest Chinatowns in Japan,...
Tocen Goshoboh: Luxury and Provenance in Arima Onsen
When it comes to accommodation in Arima Onsen, you’ll find a range of options from dormitory to grandeur and all in between. Back in the 12th century, the town was a religious pilgrimage area with a number of inns, some of which...
What to Eat and Drink in Arima Onsen
Nestled in the Rokko mountains behind Kobe City, Arima Onsen is considered one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan with a history stretching back over 1,000 years. This provenance coupled with its charming atmosphere and proximity to Osaka and Kobe...
Feel the Summer Breeze with Hyogo’s Decorative Ornamental Ferns
Come the first spurt of hot sunshine and 30-degree-Celsius weather, you will unmistakably start seeing tsurishinobu, a type of ornamental hanging fern bought in the summer period (June into July).
A craft believed to...
Japan’s Castle in the Sky: Visit the Misty, Romantic Ruins of Takeda Castle
You may have already seen pictures of Takeda Castle. It's Japan’s “Castle in the Sky”. In the autumn and early winter, the surrounding valley fills with mist, making it appear as if Takeda Castle is floating among the clouds. Together, the fog,...
