Kobe is one of our favorite large cities. It’s big enough to offer a world class art scene such as what you’ll find at the Hyogo Prefectural Art Museum, but compact enough to get around easily. Compared to the sprawling jungle of Tokyo, Kobe is a refreshing walk in the park so to speak.
Nestled between Osaka Bay on one side and the Rokko Mountains on the other, there are only about two miles between them, therefore, you can easily get to all the sites you’ll want to see. These may include the iconic Kobe Port Tower with its observation deck over 300’ above the water. Or a trip to the top of Rokko Mountain via the ropeway for one of, if not the best view in Japan, especially at night.
A real benefit of Kobe is that though it is only a 20 to 30 minute train ride to Osaka, it’s not overrun with tourists, meaning you’re pretty assured of a pleasant experience. And if you want to do something totally off the beaten path, take a tour of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which for many years was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world, and you can go to the very top of its 900’ high north tower!
Trust us, you’re likely to be the only western tourists there. We can’t speak highly enough of Kobe, so be sure to check out our Kobe videos.
Renting a car provides you with so much freedom while touring Japan, and with that often comes pleasant surprises. Although we typically carefully plan out our schedules in order to be most efficient with our time, now and then we stumble upon something that stops us...
When visiting Kobe, one attraction you should put on the list is the Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway. Located a very short walk from the Shin-Kobe Station, this is a must see on a sunny day or as the sun goes down. At the top of Mt. Rokko is the herb garden and to...