Unique and Fun Experiences Only in Kobe Japan
Interesting things to do and see in Kobe that make the city worth visiting
Nestled between the Rokko Mountains and the sparkling sea in the Kansai region of Japan is the handsome city of Kobe.
Kobe is the 7th largest city in Japan with a population of around 1.5 million. Only 30 minutes by train from Osaka and less than an hour away from Kyoto, Kobe is well-worth a short visit.
Although Kobe has a long history going back to the founding of Ikuta Jinja shrine nearly 2000 years ago, it took on its modern character after the opening of Japan in 1853 when it became a major port city for foreign trade along with Yokohama and Nagasaki. European traders and industrialists moved to Kobe, bringing their foreign ways with them.
Even to this day, Kobe sees itself as the most Westernized city in Japan, making it the opposite of Kyoto which revels in being the center of traditional Japanese culture.
The city remains an important port, as well as a major center for steel manufacturing and shipbuilding. The city is known around the world for Kobe beef, even though Kobe beef was raised for the foreign residents living there rather than being a local product of Kobe.
