Kobe is a beautiful port city in western Japan with a population of 1.5 million, located less than an hour by train from Osaka and Kyoto.
Kobe opened as Japan’s first international trading port in 1868, and since then has developed into an international city that has adopted Western customs and culture.
Kobe tourism is characterized by its compact cityscape and cosmopolitan environment cultivated by its history.
The downtown area stretches approximately 2 km from north to south, between the sea and the mountains. Within this area, there are beautifully landscaped waterfront areas such as Meriken Park & Harbor Land, the Kitano area with its European-style houses, and Nankinmachi Chinatown, and many shopping and dining spots.
A short distance away, you can enjoy the rich nature of Mt. Rokko and Mt. Maya, Japan’s largest sake production area (Nada Gogo), and one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan (Arima Onsen).
And of course, don’t forget to try the world-famous Kobe Beef!