Tag: kobe
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...
A $500 Sandwich At Nakameguro’s Wagyu Mafia
In Tokyo, you can totally get by eating on a dime. But when there’s so much high quality and Michelin food all around, it’s tempting to splurge every now and again. Before you freak out, no I didn’t pay $500 for a...
Ancient History and Supreme Relaxation at Arima Onsen
A blissful soak in an onsen is a must-do experience in Japan. However, not everybody has the time or money to splurge on a stay in a ryokan. For those wanting an authentic and picturesque hot spring day trip, Arima Onsen is...
Your Romantic Kobe Getaway: Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Perched above Kobe city and boasting over 75,000 herbs and blooming flowers, Nunobiki Herb Gardens is literally and figuratively a cut above the rest. I’ve visited gardens across the entire length of Japan, and none of them have impressed me as much...
